Aztecs dominate Rams at home to gain ground in Mountain West play

Steve Fisher Court – Viejas Arena 

The San Diego State Aztecs hosted Colorado State for a late tip-off for a highly anticipated Mountain West matchup. The Aztecs were never threatened in this game and cruised to a double-digit win. The score looked closer than it was, as the Rams scored roughly eight trash-time points.

San Diego State improves to 4-2 in the Mountain West, which places them in a tie for fourth alongside the Rams.

“Well, a nice bounce-back win being at home in front of our crowd,” head coach Brian Dutcher said postgame. “We knew Colorado State was dangerous. The key to the game was to take away fast-break baskets. Last year, they scored 40 in the first half against us. So, I thought we did a good job of not giving them fast-break baskets. We made it a half-court game.”

Colorado State hit a triple to start the game thanks to senior Jalen Lake. BJ Davis then started the scoring for the Aztecs with a mid-ranger from the right wing. Miles Byrd followed up and gave SDSU its first lead with a layup.

Lake nailed another three-pointer for six quick points on his way to a big night. He led his team with 15 points in this contest.

A back-and-forth affair showcased for a competitive match.

Pharaoh Compton subbed in for Magoon Gwath and immediately scored on the put-back attempt. He then scored on the following possession with a floater. Wayne McKinney III also brought needed offense early with two layups.

The bench showed up early for the Aztecs, and the fans at Viejas Arena loved to see it.

Colorado State wanted the three-ball to be a huge part of the game plan. They started the game 4-10 from deep with only two attempts inside the arc. CSU finished the game just 9-28 from beyond the arc.

CSU led 16-14 with 11:57 remaining in the first half.

Miles Heide made his presence known with a massive block at the end of the shot clock. Then, the fans cheered to Kimo Ferrari walking on the court for the first time. Byrd then hit a three, and Viejas Arena was very loud.

A few possessions later, Ferrari nailed a triple to put SDSU up 22-18. Just as before, the fans kept urging him to shoot every time he touched the ball. Ferrari played just over three minutes on Tuesday night.

Byrd hit yet another triple for the Aztecs for their fourth of the game to put them up 27-20 with 5:16 remaining in the half.

Let him cook @_mbyrd21

📺 @CBSSportsCBB pic.twitter.com/WJRQYj9aiX

— San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) January 15, 2025

CSU started to find its rhythm again and scored nine points before the half ended, thanks to a quick 6-0 run. However, Davis nailed a three-pointer off the backboard at the buzzer to put the Aztecs up six at the break.

The bank’s open for @BJDavis_10!

📺 @CBSSportsCBB pic.twitter.com/rbqnEJxVXN

— San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) January 15, 2025

Miles Byrd led the Red and Black with 15 points at the half, while McKinney III came to play with seven points and a game-high +11 plus-minus. SDSU did well defending the Rams’ top player, Nique Clifford. They held him to 3-8 from the floor with two turnovers.

The Aztecs started the second half with pace. Nick Boyd converted an and-one opportunity, and Byrd swished another deep three. SDSU led by 12 with just under 17 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Aztecs started to run away with this game. Byrd converted on his fifth three-pointer, which was a career-high for the sophomore. He and McKinney III provided much-needed scoring for the Aztecs when they weren’t getting it from others. Those two shot a combined 11-18 from the field with 30 points. Only seven Aztecs had points at this point in the contest.

The Red and Black’s lead was 54-37 with 10:32 remaining.

The final 10 minutes did not see many positives go Colorado State’s way. The Aztecs cruised their way to a big win and the Rams had no answer. The Rams average north of 18 assists per game, and the Aztecs held them to just nine. Outside of a few early possessions, the Rams couldn’t find a rhythm. They also turned the ball over 20 times.

“We forced them into a lot of turnovers and Byrd obviously set a school record for steals … I think he had seven,” Dutcher said. “We told (Byrd) ‘be careful they are going to back cut they are going to back cut,’ but he can’t help himself … to the point where I don’t leave my wallet in the locker room he is stealing so much.”

Byrd did have seven steals but it was a school record since SDSU came to the Mountain West. The program record is nine in 1986 from Tracy Dildy.

Miles. Byrd.

That’s the tweet.

📺 @CBSSportsCBB pic.twitter.com/azADZUir5j

— San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) January 15, 2025

Byrd was asked what meant more, his career high in points or steals.

“The seven steals for sure,” Byrd said postgame. “We work really hard every single day in practice. I feel like the last two years, I’ve been a defensive guy, and I am glad I was able to show it again against a really good team. Especially against a good offensive team.”

The Aztecs controlled the pace on both sides of the floor and got rewarded with a massive win over a good Colorado State team. Nothing comes easy in the Mountain West.

SDSU will take on UNLV on Saturday night, January 18, at 5:00 PT. The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

Chris Spiering

Chris is a graduate of the University of San Diego. He is the former Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris has covered the San Diego Loyal, and now covers San Diego State Men’s Basketball. He also contributes regularly about the Padres. Chris is an athlete and is a huge fan of San Diego sports.