SDSU returns home eyeing 25-0 start against New Mexico
MWC
New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Viejas Arena
8:00 pm ESPN 2
The 24-0 San Diego State Aztecs return from altitude to host 17-8 New Mexico Lobos Tuesday night at Viejas Arena.
On Saturday, the Aztecs traveled to Colorado Springs to play the Air Force Falcons. Playing at Air Force is not easy because the campus is at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. For a team like San Diego State, who play at sea level, this journey can sometimes lead to an upset.
Coach Dutcher’s squad kept rolling by scoring their most points in conference play, and their second-highest of the season, 89. However, the Air Force Falcons are an excellent offensive team and were able to score 74 points, a season-high in points allowed for SDSU.
The turnaround for the San Diego State Aztecs is short, only getting two days off before their matchup with New Mexico. The Aztecs throttled New Mexico in their meeting earlier this year, 85-57. The game was over when San Diego State began the game on a 17-0 run. Sloppy play late from the Aztecs led to 16 turnovers, which made the score seem closer than it was.
All five starters for SDSU-K.J. Feagin, Malachi Flynn, Matt Mitchell, Yanni Wetzell, and Jordan Shakel-scored in double figures, which is the recipe for success for the Aztecs this year. Corey Manigault led the New Mexico Lobos in scoring with 12 points. The only other Lobo with double-digits in points was Keith McGee.
New Mexico is coming off of their best game of the season, after defeating the Wyoming Cowboys 97-68 Saturday afternoon. Wyoming is easily the worst team in the Mountain West, but it is still impressive to beat a team by 29. Three Lobos scored over 20 points, which is very rare. They will look to have a similar performance and hand the San Diego State Aztecs their first loss of the season.
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JaQuan Lyle, who missed New Mexico’s previous matchup against San Diego State, will be playing in his 2nd game since returning from a suspension. Lyle averages 16.5 PPG and 4.8 APG. He is their primary ball-handler and leader, whose presence was clearly missing against San Diego State last time. Expect him to be a difference-maker in Tuesday’s game.
The game between the San Diego State Aztecs and the New Mexico Lobos will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Tip-off is at 8:00 p.m. PST in Viejas Arena. The Aztecs will be looking to improve to 25-0 and 14-0 in conference play.
Dominic is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism. He also is the producer and co-host of the “Padres EVT Podcast.”