It wasn’t fairly, however early steadiness by the San Diego State Aztecs gave strategy to a ending flourish led by BJ Davis in an 81-68 win over the San José State Spartans on Tuesday evening on the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
A season faraway from needing a pair of comebacks, having fallen behind by as a lot as 21 at Viejas Arena and 17 in Silicon Valley, the Aztecs (8-4, 2-0 Mountain West) led the Spartans (5-8, 0-2) for the overwhelming majority of the sport nevertheless it by no means felt totally comfy till late.
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Davis went into assault mode within the second half, scoring 15 of his 18 factors, whereas Pharaoh Compton got here off the bench to attain 11 factors with an SDSU-high six rebounds. Miles Byrd added 11 factors with 4 steals and Reese Dixon-Waters scored 10 factors with a pair of late triples to salt the outcome.
Wearing their alternate scarlet uniforms, the Aztecs protection put the cease enroll within the second half down the stretch. Top scorer Colby Garland knocked down a jumper to make it a 2-point sport with 8:52 remaining, however that will be the one SJSU bucket till a layup with 26.8 second left and the sport determined.
The San Diego State closing push got here within the closing 5 minutes, as Davis scored 8 of the Aztecs’ factors in a row and and 10 of 12 factors over a 3 minute stretch the place a 63-59 lead ballooned to a 75-62 benefit.
Over the ultimate 13 minutes, San Diego State held the Spartans into 2-of-16 capturing, repeatedly forcing late shot clock pictures from the perimeter and permitting simply 5 offensive rebounds and seven second likelihood factors within the final 20 minutes. SJSU managed solely 17 factors from the sector and 13 factors on the free throw line within the second half.
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The opening 20 noticed the groups mix for 23 turnovers, with the Aztecs forcing 13 giveaways by the Spartans — 10 on which got here within the first 12 minutes.
A ten-0 run simply over 4 and a half minutes into the sport gave SDSU an early lead, however San José State put collectively a 9-0 run of their very own over a 1:11 stretch simply previous the eight minute mark to remain inside shouting distance for the rest of the half.
Balance was the phrase of the opening 20 minutes for the Scarlet and Black, as all 11 gamers had at the very least one subject purpose, with Magoon Gwath’s 7 factors essentially the most on the squad. That steadiness was additionally mirrored on the glass, as each participant had at the very least two rebounds, and moreover seven gamers recorded at the very least one help.
Gwath was known as for a technical foul within the first half, tossing the ball in frustration within the course of Japhet Moupadele after the Spartan had fouled him to ship the SDSU ahead to the road for one-and-one. Gwath missed the entrance finish and went to the bench, earlier than taking part in the ultimate 98 seconds of the primary half after which performed simply six minutes within the second stanza.
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Outside of a game-high 30 factors from Garland, the Spartans obtained 13 factors from Melvin Bell Jr. and 10 factors from Jermaine Washington, however the trio shot 14-of-42 from the sector. San Diego State held SJSU to 34.5% capturing, although the hosts have been capable of keep within the sport for a lot of the second half thanks to creating 13-of-15 on the charity stripe.
This is the ultimate Mountain West assembly between the Aztecs and Spartans, as because of the unbalanced schedule SJSU is not going to be making the journey to The Mesa this season. San Diego State gained 22 of the 23 conferences between the applications within the Mountain West period.
SDSU returns house to host the Boise State Broncos at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 3 at Viejas Arena. The sport can be televised on CBS Sports Network, with radio protection offered regionally on San Diego Sports 760 AM.