Utah State rallied to take down SDSU after Aztecs failed to gain momentum in second half

Viejas Arena – San Diego State 

The San Diego State Aztecs hosted the Utah State Aggies for the conference home opener. SDSU led by as much as 18 points in the first half but would make just seven baskets in the second half to lose by one point.

Utah State deserves their flowers after their performance on Saturday evening.

“Well, that is the Mountain West,” head coach Brian Dutcher said postgame. “That is what Utah State did last year. Deja vu. They have won those games and continue to find a way to make shots this year to win a tough road game at Viejas Arena. Our crowd was sensational.”

San Diego State gained momentum quickly as they jumped out to the first-half lead.

Magoon Gwath made a lay-in after the rebound to get the scoring started. Nick Boyd followed up with a couple of free throws, and Miles Byrd got the energy in Viejas Arena going as he nailed a triple to give SDSU a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the contest.

Pharaoh Compton entered the game after Jared Coleman-Jones injured himself on a collision with Gwath. Compton then scored four straight points.

SDSU led 11-7 as the first TV timeout arrived. The Aztecs had four different players score and Mason Falslev had five of the Aggies first seven points.

Through the first nine minutes, Gwath scored four points and grabbed five rebounds. His rebounding proved to be crucial with three offensive boards. His team led 18-11 with 10:42 remaining in the first half.

The Aztecs kept pushing. Byrd assisted to Compton on a dunk to give SDSU their first double-digit lead, 22-12. Then, Byrd nailed another triple to put every Aztec fan on their feet.

Viejas Arena was as loud as I have ever heard it.

JCJ returned to the court to a cheer from Aztec fans. He would then return to the game with a patch on his left cheek, indicated he injured his face in the collision with Gwath. He helped his team maintain their lead.

Utah State did not quit toward the end of the half. They actually scored 10 of the final 13 points to trim the lead to 11 by the break.

The Aztecs held a 43-32 advantage with 20 minutes left to play. Byrd led all scorers with 12 points.

Utah State started the second half by trimming the lead back to inside double digits as the Aztecs failed to score on their first few possessions of the second half.

Byrd then hit a turnaround floater to put them back up 45-34.

The Aggies clearly flipped a switch in the second half. They battled back and brought the Aztecs’ advantage down to just two points with around 10 minutes remaining.

“We let them battle back at the end of the first half,” Byrd said postgame. “That gives them confidence. They came out and started the second half well, and then we had a game.”

SDSU went nearly four minutes without scoring but finally did after a BJ Davis finger-roll layup.

His team led 53-49 with 7:50 remaining. Every play from here on out was crucial in terms of momentum.

Utah State seemed to have it. Down as much as 18, the Aggies stormed back to take the lead, 56-55. SDSU had just 12 second-half points at this point.

Big-time play @NicholaswBoyd

📺 @CBBonFOX pic.twitter.com/tEj7bkNryG

— San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) December 29, 2024

Boyd returned to the charity stripe and re-took the lead by knocking down consecutive three throws.

This contest turned into a barn burner.

Utah State kept fighting back, even when it seemed the Aztecs would hold on for the win. They scored five points quickly to bring the score to within two.

Byrd then fouled out on a controversial call.

“It came down to a call that the (refs) get right 50% of the time,” Dutcher said. “It’s every game in the country whether it’s pros, youth basketball, or college basketball, the block/charge. You know, it’s a big call on Byrd to end the game. And so, I thought we had a chance at a charge because he saw the ball so far in advance. It wasn’t one of those where you slide under last minute. He waited there. In my opinion, he was definitely set and waiting. I don’t think he slid at all. That is a hard call.”

Just 48 seconds remained. SDSU led by two with the ball.

Tucker Anderson then nailed his fourth triple of the game to put Utah State up one with eight seconds remaining. Dutcher explained that he wanted to take a timeout but the timeout call was no heard by the players ore officials. Instead, Wayne McKinney III attempts a three at the buzzer that didn’t fall.

“When (Anderson) made it, there was around six seconds on the clock,” Dutcher said. “I looked up and tried to call a timeout whether it was the officials seeing me or the players, that didn’t happen.”

Dutcher then continued on with his statement.

“Six seconds, go to the basket,” he said. “Get to the rim and make them call a foul. We end up pulling up. I thought (McKinney) was a little indecisive and not sure what he wanted to do and then shot a three.”

The Aztecs will learn from this result. They do not lose many home games but understand that the Mountain West is high level competition.

The Aztecs will take on Boise State on the road next Saturday.

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.