Strong, tough athletes competing for 40 minutes is the Aztec Way. 

As the program has ascended to its present height, they have routinely worn out the opposition with their relentlessness. With so many newcomers, head coach Brian Dutcher’s ability to continue this quality should not be overlooked. 

 “I don’t really think it’s the players,” Miles Byrd replied when asked about the characteristic. “I think it’s the culture. Dutch has been here for 25 years, and that’s what they’ve been able to do for 25 years. What would it look like for our group to not do the same? I think that’s what we preach day in and day out.”

Despite a closer-than-expected final score, SDSU defeated California Baptist on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena because of this tradition. It was apparent in two key stretches. 

The Aztecs fell behind 21-18 with 11:08 left in the first half. Over the next eight minutes of game time, they built a 12-point advantage. During the stretch, they held the Lancers to only 13 points and scored methodically, not in bunches. Seven different players produced 22 points. 

In the second half, CA Baptist had narrowed SDSU’s advantage to five at 48-43 with 16:31 left. Over the following seven and a half minutes, the lead ballooned to 19.

The Red and Black’s smothering defense led the way again, allowing just six points during the run. Offensively, they spread the wealth again. Six athletes produced 20 points. Impressively, the Aztecs had seven assists on eight field goals. 

“It’s just the depth,” Dutcher said. “We’ve talked about that. And we went ten deep today cause we put Demarshay (Johnson Jr.) in with the game on the line. We just felt he’s been so good in practice, and we thought he could fill a need for us, and he did. We’re deep, and most teams, they’ll play that many guys, but the performance falls off. Our performance doesn’t fall off when we got to the bench. I think the bench is what extended the run. That’s when we went on our biggest run when the guys off the bench were in.”

The first time this staple showed itself with this group was in the Players Era Festival. Against Houston, SDSU looked outclassed for the first 25 minutes of the contest, scoring only 29 points. Then, the Cougars wore down, and the Aztecs poured in 36 over the final 15. The Aztecs used a traditional run in the second half to pull away from Creighton after a back-and-forth opening to that game. 

Dutcher’s excellence in passing along SDSU’s culture is the norm and expectation, but that should not hide the fact that it is not normal. The challenge of continuing a legacy in the NIL transfer portal era makes it even more special. 

What the win means in the scope of the season

Expected margin of victory is the name of the game in the world of sports analytics. SDSU’s narrower-than-predicted 81-75 victory had the predictable result. The Aztecs dropped from 41 to 47 in the NET and from 36 to 43 in Kenpom. CBU lost and improved its numbers. 

A good point of reference for how margin of victory is baked into these formulas: SDSU soared from 60 to 43 in the NET after knocking off Fresno State 84-62. The Bulldogs are presently 274 in the NET and lost to the Lancers a week before playing the Aztecs. 

While following the numbers is fun, their influence differs from what their adherents want them to be. They certainly do not tell the narrative of SDSU’s season. 

“I think anybody who would look at our schedule and see that we were seven and two with the schedule that we’ve played would say, ‘that’s pretty darn good,’” Dutcher said. “And now we can close out the non-conference in a neutral site game against Cal in ten days. If we found a way to go eight and two, I think that would be spectacular.”

Following its exhibition over San Marcos, lack of cohesiveness on offense, turnovers, and rebounding were identified as areas of improvement that could limit the Aztecs’ ceiling. Aside from rebounding, they have quelled those concerns in just six weeks. Against a great rebounding team in Houston, they even flashed potential to make that aspect of their team a positive. 

SDSU has been to two straight Sweet 16s. There is every hope they can make it a third this year. In the scope of the season, the Aztecs dominated a contest where CBU had 13 more field goal attempts because SDSU gave up 17 offensive boards. 

Player of the Game: Nick Boyd

Postgame Dutcher explained that teams are defending the Aztecs differently than they were earlier in the year. With SDSU spread out on the court more and the opposition helping in the pick and roll at the start of the year, it left shooters like BJ Davis open for clean looks. 

Adjustments have taken Davis out of the game; he’s shot five or fewer times in three of the past four games. Doing so has opened up the court for Nick Boyd.

The transfer was sensational in nearly every area on Wednesday. He had 16 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. He drew seven of California Baptist’s 16 fouls, which sent him to the line seven times. His one negative was he missed a key free throw late. 

“He put up his points, yet he had eight assists, which is what we need,” Dutcher explained. “Someone has got to hit those rolling posts, and he was doing it. He was finding them and that’s good play on his part. I’m sure he’s disappointed that he missed that one-on-one late in the game, but that happens. I know one thing. He’ll be the guy first thing in the morning shooting free throws; make sure it doesn’t happen again. You win with toughness and character, and we have both of those.”

Heading into the season, assistant coach JayDee Luster spoke about Boyd’s ability to come off ball screens as something he did well at his former school. With the Aztecs, he has been the best true point guard SDSU has seen since Malachi Flynn. His ability to command the offense with so many moving parts has been sensational.

Unsung Hero: Miles Heide

Dutcher explained that the only negative he saw Wednesday was SDSU’s rebounding. He explained that the bigs are not crashing the boards like they are capable of doing. Magoon Gwath had two. Jared Coleman-Jones just one. Pharaoh Compton brought in a pair. Demarshay Johnson Jr. had zero. Miles Heide was the exception, with five. 

Dutcher wanted even more from his sophomore big on the defensive glass, but Heide’s impact in the game by hauling in four offensive rebounds should not go unnoticed. 

“(Rebounds) off the offensive side, it’s just more momentum, more team boost,” Heide said. “It just gets the stadium loud, so they’re definitely big plays.”

In a game where CBU won most of the long rebounds, Heide did just enough to prevent the momentum from swinging too far in the wrong direction. 

Fast Break

• What BJ Davis is working through is a typical progression for a new starter. How he responds will be interesting to see. Davis not forcing shots is a positive sign. His defense continues to be terrific. 
• Reese Waters will make SDSU better. The question is when. Dutcher said he still has physical tests to pass and, even if he is healthy, will need time to get back into playing shape. 
• The game was officially a sellout, but the crowd support was not what is typical for the Aztecs. Perhaps people did not realize CBU was a quality opponent.
• The Lancers’ Dominique Daniels Jr scored 22 points but was very inefficient. His performance went as predicted in Chris Spiering’s preview of the contest. 
• The 17 three-pointers SDSU attempted were tied for a season-low. They shot the same amount against Creighton and USD.
• Remember the Occidental game earlier this season? SDSU launched 40 threes in that game. 
• SDSU owns California. Wednesday was the first meeting between the schools. The Aztecs have now played all 25 DI teams in the state. They own winning records against 21 of them. 
• The last 111 times that a Golden State team has traveled to Viejas Arena, the Aztecs have won 100 of them. 
• California Baptist University’s media guide emphasized that their team should not referred to as Cal Baptist or Cal Bapt. CBU is the appropriate abbreviation.

Paul Garrison

My earliest sport’s memory involve tailgating at the Murph, running down the circular exit ramps, and seeing the Padres, Chargers and Aztecs play. As a second generation Aztec, I am passionate about all things SDSU. Other interests include raising my four children, being a great husband and teaching high school.