San Diego State hosted North Country sister school, Cal State San Marcos, in the only official exhibition before the 2024-2025 campaign begins on November 6 against UCSD.

The Aztecs’ roster continuity gave this contest a different feel than seasons past. More than any team in recent memory, Wednesday night was an introduction of the players to the Madhouse on The Mesa. With Reese Waters rolling around on a knee bike to protect his injured leg, head coach Brian Dutcher’s most seasoned returners are sophomores Miles Byrd (13.7 mpg) and Miles Heide (8.9 mpg).

“I thought it was a good dress rehearsal to get all the new guys in front of a Viejas crowd,” Dutcher said postgame. “Even though it was not sold out, it was loud. We have great fans. I hope they got an early look at our new Aztecs.”

Dutcher started Byrd, BJ Davis, Magoon Gwath, Jared Colmen-Jones, and Nick Boyd. The Aztecs raced to a 9-0 lead but did little in the flow of their offense. Boyd opened the scoring with a three. Gwath assisted the trey after an offensive rebound. 

Davis had a fast break layup and a steal that led to a dunk by Byrd. Coleman-Jones benefited from Byrd’s length when the sophomore stepped in front of a CSUSM pass and started a run-out. 

At the first time out, Dutcher put in a second wave of Aztecs. Heide, Wayne McKinney III, Pharoah Compton, Kimo Ferrari, and Taj DeGourville made up the next five. Compton scored two inside, including a dunk where he beat everyone down the court, and McKinney III found him on a half-court lob.

Another stop in the action brought the starters back into the contest. Boyd was more aggressive as the lead guard, getting to the rack a pair of times. The point guard play will be watched this season after the transfer of Lamont Butler. 

“I’d take the 28 BJ (Davis) gave me at UCLA,” Dutcher replied when asked what he wants from his point guards. “I’d take the seven for eight Nick (Boyd) gave me tonight. We have to be good. The better they are, the more I’ll put the ball in their hands.”

The first mixed units competed after Byrd and Coleman-Jones picked up their second fouls. McKinney III entered for Byrd and Compton for Coleman-Jones, suggesting the freshman might have a leg up over Heide as the reserve big. 

After DeGourville entered for Boyd, Davis took over at point. He found Gwath for a corner three in front of the San Marcos bench, giving the Aztecs a 30-11 lead with 7:25 left in the half. On the possession before, Gwath hoisted up a deep three from midway through the tip of the spear on the center court SDSU logo at center court. It caused an audible groan from the Viejas Arena crowd and an exhale when it air-balled out of bounds. 

Throughout the opening half, Dutcher utilized a full-court press on made baskets. Assistant coach Dave Velasquez told EVT in the offseason that the tactic might be shelved due to emphasizing other parts of the SDSU’s defense. The Aztecs got plenty of work on it Wednesday Night. 

The final Aztec to enter in the opening half was Demarshay Johnson. He competed with Gwath and Coleman-Jones. The sight of two 6-foot-10 athletes and a 7-footer together, along with Boyd and Davis, was unique. 

SDSU outclassed San Marcos athletically. It led to an up-and-down opening 20 minutes, preventing the game from flowing much. On the strength of its defense, the Aztecs led 46-19 at intermission. 

Boyd paced the Aztecs with 13 points. Byrd, McKinney III, and Davis each chipped in seven. SDSU shot 48.6% overall (18-37) and 31.6% (6-19) from deep. Half of the team’s field goals came off nine assists. Boyd led SDSU with three dimes. 

Defensively, CSUSM shot just 30.4% (7-23). Gwath had three of SDSU’s four first-half blocks. His length bothered San Marcos. Players of his profile do not fit many molds. Davis, Byrd, and Ferrari had two steals each. 

The highlight of the game came with 3:19 left. The pep band led the gathered in singing “Happy Birthday” to Dutcher, who turned 65 today. The moment was potentially topped only by the full-costumed rendition of Michal Jackson’s Thriller before the Aztecs came out for second-half warmups.

Dutcher sent out the same starting unit. Gwath’s block party continued. He picked up his fourth by erasing terrific ball movement by CSUSM. The Cougars moved the rock around the court, creating space for Christian Littlejohn-Chin, who initially drove past Gwath. SDSU’s freshman met Littlejohn-Chin at the rim. 

The Show was in mid-season form. When Tracy Bryden missed two free throws, they shouted in unison, “You let your whole team down.” 

Boyd continued his strong play. He hit SDSU’s first field goal in the second half, a three. He added a jumper a few minutes later to raise his total to 18. DeGourville replaced him soon after, and the Viejas crowd gave a respectful roar. Needing a star to lead the way, Boyd might be that for the Aztecs. It was the final moments Boyd played on the evening.

The Aztecs led 54-23 as the clock passed under 15 minutes remaining. The game remained sloppy, but the SDSU’s spread-out offensive attack showed promising signs. With five athletes beyond the three-point line, Byrd and McKinney III drove past their men for easy layups. 

On a later possession, after multiple wheels of movement, Compton had a great low post opportunity that he converted to push the Aztecs total to 60. Compton added a sweet midrange jumper for his eighth point on the next trip.

Even with the game out of hand, Dutcher and his staff continued to coach his players hard. Ferrari was often the object of their ire. At one point, Boyd jumped off the bench to encourage his teammate. Ferrari headed the instruction. 

After a lull in the action, as the teams exchanged foul shots, the local product drove the lane and found Johnson for an emphatic alley-oop. It was the High Flying Play of the Game. 

Gwath checked back into the game and ignited more energy. He dunked an offensive rebound for two and dove on the floor for a loose ball on the defensive end. Gwath added a layup on the next trip. The sequence was a sign that the characteristic Aztec intensity might be present with this squad. 

“(The energy level) was good because we scored the ball,” Dutcher explained. “It’s always easy to have energy when the ball goes in. We made a lot of shots and got out on the break. The offense was easy tonight. That energy has to be there when the offense isn’t good. Then I’ll know what kind of team we have.”

Byrd had a lob to Compton to push the lead to 40 at 74-34. Freshman Thokbar Majak, another 7-foot athlete, entered the game with 4:08 left. He was Aztec’s final scholarship to play and quickly added two free throws. 

Walk-ons Ryan Schwarz and Desai Lopez came in next. The rest of the game was spent hunting for shots for Schwarz and Lopez. To the delight of his teammates and the fans who hadn’t exited early, Lopez attempted a layup at the end of the game. He missed, but Thokbor tipped in the rebound to provide the final 80-39 margin. 

Boyd’s 18 led all scorers. Byrd finished with 12. Compton had 10. No other Aztec was in double digits. Gwath’s four blocks and Byrd and Ferrari’s four steals also stood out. Coleman-Jones had five rebounds. 

SDSU shot 49.2% from the field but only 28% from three. They held CSUSM to 26.1% in the contest and only 2-15 from deep. 

With the exhibition season over, the Aztecs can turn their attention to the games that count. 

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.