Aztecs rally to beat Wolf Pack in Reno, start 4-0 in MWC play
Credit: Nevada Athletics
The San Diego State Aztecs (10-4, 4-0) defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack (11-4, 3-1), 73-68, in a battle of unbeaten teams in the Mountain West on Tuesday night.
Five Aztecs scored in double figures, including Miles Byrd with a team-high 14 points (6/13 FG, 2/6 3PT). Byrd also led the team with 5 assists and added 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block.
BJ Davis scored 10 (2/8 FG, 0/4 3PT, 6/7 FT), dished out 4 assists, and tied the team-high of 7 rebounds with Miles Heide.
The Aztecs continued their hot shooting from the field, connecting on 52% (28/54) from the field, while holding the Wolf Pack to only 36% (21/59).
Reese Dixon-Waters’ putback gave the Aztecs a one-point lead at 67-66 with under two minutes left in the game. Over a minute later, Heide converted another second-chance opportunity off a Davis miss for a three-point lead (missed the and-one free throw). The Aztecs won the points in the paint battle 42-16.
The Wolf Pack ran a play for Corey Camper Jr, but he missed a wide-open shot from behind the arc from the left corner that would have tied the game. Davis rebounded the miss and was fouled, making both free throws for a 71-66 lead with 17.7 seconds left.
Davis committed a silly reach-in foul outside the arc on the ensuing possession, cutting the lead back to three, but Elzie Harrington knocked down two free throws to close the game out.
The Wolf Pack raced out to a 14-2 lead, making 6 of their first 7 shots and scoring 10 points off 4 Aztecs turnovers.
Brian Dutcher went to his reserves, and the 2nd-highest scoring bench in the country (43.2 ppg) delivered. 17 bench points, led by Taj DeGourville (7) and Sean Newman Jr. (5), cut the lead to 23-21. The bench ended with 37 points.
The Wolf Pack held on to a 36-34 lead at the half. The Aztecs dominated the glass in the first half, outrebounding the Wolf Pack 19-9 with 8 on the offensive end.
Byrd’s 3-pointer on the opening possession of the second half gave the Aztecs their first lead of the game.
The Wolf Pack got into the bonus with 9:49 remaining in the game. After only shooting 7 free throws for the first 30 minutes of the game, the Wolf Pack shot 13 the rest of the way.
Elijah Price led the Wolf Pack with 17 points (3/7 FG, 0/1 3PT, 11/12 FT), 10 rebounds, and 4 steals but fouled out late in the game. Tayshawn Comer added 16 points (5/15 FG, 2/9 3PT, 4/4 FT) and Chu Bailey III chipped in 13 (5/13 FG, 3/6 3PT).
Jeremiah Oden started for the second consecutive game in place of Magoon Gwath and did not score in 11 minutes. Gwath scored 7 points (3/3 FG, 1/1 3PT) in 19 minutes. Tae Simmons, who missed the previous game against Boise State, returned to action, scoring 2 points (1/3 FG, 0/2 FT) in 7 minutes.
Quick Notes
- SDSU improved its series record to 29-7 against Nevada with the win
- BJ Davis entered the contest as the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week after averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in a pair of victories for the Aztecs
- After 9 turnovers in the first half, the Aztecs only turned it over 4 times in the second half
- Both teams struggled from behind the arc; SDSU 24% (4/17), Nevada 29% (8/28)
The Aztecs return to Viejas Arena to host the Fresno State Bulldogs (7-8, 1-3) on Saturday night. The game tips off at 8 pm PT and will air on CBS Sports Network.
Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.