SAN DIEGO – Facing off for the first time since a thrilling 74-71 overtime win for San Diego State in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Mountain West Tournament, the Aztecs and Runnin’ Rebels renew their rivalry on Saturday at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
OFF THE BOUNCE
San Diego State and UNLV are set to meet for the 83rd time on Saturday evening at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena, with San Diego State holding a 44-38 advantage in the all-time series, including 40-12 in the Mountain West era.
With its 75-60 win over Colorado State in its last game, the Aztecs are 35-4 in their last 39 games immediately following a loss, which includes a loss at the end of a season and a win in the opening game of the following campaign. In situations where a loss is followed immediately by a home game, San Diego State is 37-1 in its last 38 games.
In the Aztecs win over Colorado State (Jan. 14) sophomore scored a career-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers, grabbed six rebounds and had seven steals. He is the first player in Mountain West history to have a game with those numbers and just the third in the nation in the last 16 years.
In its 14 Division I games, San Diego State has held eight opponents to their worst shooting game of the season and for three of the remaining six, they had their 2nd worst field goal percentage games.
San Diego State, No. 3 & No. 9, and Tennessee, No. 2 and No. 1, are the only teams in the nation ranked in the top-10 in both field goal and 3-point field goal percentage defense, respectively.
San Diego State’s defense was particularly stingy against the Colorado State bench. The Aztecs held the Rams bench scoreless until there was 5:56 to play in the game and held CSU’s extras to just 2 points, on a pair of free throws. It was the fewest bench points allowed since its game against New Mexico in the championship of the 2024 Mountain West Tournament, when it surrendered one point. The fewest bench points allowed before that was zero vs. Creighton in the Elite Eight on March 26, 2023.
San Diego State is No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 3 in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 35.9 percent from the floor, and is one of two programs that is limiting opponents to a combined maximum of 35.9 percent from the floor and 28.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Aztecs are No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 9 in the country in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.280).
San Diego State has eight victories in their last 10 games. In those eight wins, SDSU is shooting .434 from the field, including .347 from the bonus distance, and is averaging 75.1 points per game, with an average margin of victory of 15.1 points. Defensively, in those games, the team limited its opponents to a .347 shooting percentage, including .276 from beyond the arc and for the season has limited the opposition to 35.9 percent shooting overall, which ranks No. 3 nationally.
Halfway through the season, San Diego State is once again trending as one of the nation’s best in defense. After the games of January 15, according to KenPom, the Aztecs are 2nd in block percentage, No. 6 in adjusted defensive efficiency, No. 7 in effective field goal percentage defense, and No. 11 in both 2-point and 3-point percentage defense.
The Aztecs showed California what stifling defense looks like back on December 21, in holding a Golden Bears team that shot 47.5 percent from the floor coming into the game to just 25.5 percent, Cal’s fourth worst shooting game in the last 30 years. SDSU also limited Cal, a 38.1 percent shooting team from the bonus distance to 20.8 percent.
San Diego State leads the Mountain West with 5.73 blocked shots per game and is No. 7 in the nation. San Diego State has received 41 of its 86 blocks this year (47.7 percent) from freshman Magoon Gwath, who is No. 8 in the nation (2.73/g).
Freshman Magoon Gwath ranks No. 8 in the nation in blocks per game (2.73) and No. 4 Kenpom’s block percentage and No. 10 in total blocks (41). Gwath has a triumvirate of five block games: vs. No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 6 Houston & Oregon.
The Aztecs have held 10 of their 15 Division I opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, seven games of less than 35.0 percent, three under 30.0 percent. SDSU limited California to just 25.5 percent shooting on Dec. 21, the third lowest opponent field goal percentage shooting night in the Brian Dutcher era.
Freshman wing Magoon Gwath enjoyed a 25-point, 10-rebound and four-block game in the team’s 84-62 win at Fresno State on December 4. He became the first Aztec freshman to have a game of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds since Kawhi Leonard totaled 25 and 12 against Wyoming on January 9, 2010, and is the only freshman in the nation with a game of at least 25 points, 10 boards and four blocks this year.
In the team’s 73-70 overtime win against No. 6 Houston, the Aztecs overcame both a 5-point halftime deficit and trailed by 11-point with 14:58 to play to send the game to overtime and ultimately its 3-point win. The victory was Brian Dutcher’s 15th win in 26 games against top 25 opponents. Dutcher is the only head coach in program history with a winning record against ranked teams and it was the program’s first win against a top-10 team since a 71-64 victory over No. 1 Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
With the Aztecs 67-38 win over Air Force, San Diego State is 97-7 in the Brian Dutcher era, when it limits its opponent to 60 or fewer points. Overall, the Aztecs have won 31 straight when holding the opposition to 60 points or less and are 104-8 in its last 112.
In the Aztecs 100-49 win over Occidental on November 12, numerous highlights were achieved both as a program. It was the first time since the 2018-19 season SDSU scored 100 points in a game, not including overtime games. The team’s 37-point halftime lead was its biggest since a 46-point lead in the 2013-14 campaign. The Aztecs’ 18 three-pointers were one off the Viejas Arena and program record, set on Dec. 2, 2022, against Occidental.
San Diego State, which in 2023-24 reached the Mountain West Tournament championship game for the seventh time in head coach Brian Dutcher’s seven seasons, looks for its unprecedented 17th Mountain West men’s basketball title. Entering the 2024-25 season, San Diego State has won nine regular season and seven Mountain West tournament titles, the most of any program that has ever been a member of the league.
Brian Dutcher is in his eighth season as San Diego State’s head coach and his 26th season on the Aztec sidelines. In his seven-plus seasons as head coach, he has led the Aztecs to five conference titles, seven Mountain West championship game appearances, a 188-62 overall record and 96-34 mark in league games, both league leading in that time frame, has been named the national coach of the year, twice the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year and led this team to back-to-back Sweet 16s including a run to the 2023 NCAA national championship game.
With a record of 13-4 overall and 7-3 in conference play, the Aztecs are currently sitting in second place in the Mountain West standings. They will be looking to secure another important victory against UNLV, who are currently 6-6 in conference play.
The game is sure to be an exciting matchup, with both teams fighting for crucial conference wins. The Aztecs will need to bring their A-game and continue to play strong defense in order to come out on top.
So mark your calendars and come out to Viejas Arena this Saturday to support the Aztecs as they take on UNLV. It's sure to be a thrilling game that you won't want to miss!
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