The San Diego State Aztecs secured their fifth straight victory by defeating the California Golden Bears 71-50 at the SAP Center on Saturday night. This win improves the Aztecs' record to 8-2 for the season, showcasing their resilience as they continued to excel defensively.
Nick Boyd emerged as the game’s standout player, scoring all 17 of his points after halftime. Despite struggling with his shooting early on and missing all six of his first-half attempts, Boyd managed to find his rhythm and hit two three-pointers within the first minute of the second half, igniting his team and ensuring they would pull away from the struggling Bears.
BJ Davis and Miles Byrd each chipped in with 12 points for the Aztecs, displaying depth throughout the lineup. For California, Jeremiah Wilkinson led the way with 13 points, with Andrej Stojakovic contributing 10. Unfortunately for the Bears, they shot just 25.5% from the field throughout the contest, marking their 19th consecutive loss against ranked opponents.
Both teams faced significant challenges prior to the game, primarily due to travel complications. The Aztecs planned for a routine flight but were grounded by thick fog, requiring them to bus to Orange County for another flight—resulting in delays and the arrival just before game warmups. This tumultuous travel experience mirrored the teams' rocky starts to the match.
California's first half was marred by shooting woes, as they went through 16 consecutive misses. The frustration boiled over for coach Mark Madsen when he was assessed a technical foul late in the half due to the team's lack of offensive execution. The Bears could only manage to score 16 points by halftime, trailing the Aztecs 25-16, which was largely set up by the Aztecs’ stunning defensive effort.
San Diego State had its own struggles, missing 11 of its first 12 shots. Their first success came at the end of the half when Byrd hit the team's first three-pointer, ending 21 combined misses from beyond the arc for both teams at the start of the game. This moment marked a turning point as the Aztecs went on to score 46 points during the second half, demonstrating resilience and offensive prowess.
"We made some progress rebounding the basketball," said Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher after the game, acknowledging the team’s efforts on the boards, where they out-rebounded the Bears 49-39. The Aztecs also excelled defensively with 13 steals and 9 blocks against California, showcasing their multifaceted approach to the game.
Another key to the Aztecs’ triumph was their three-point shooting resurgence. After starting the game 0 for 10 from three-point range, they hit 8 of 15 attempts after halftime, capitalizing on the defensive lapses of the Golden Bears. Boyd’s performance from deep became integral to the Aztecs' victory, as he ended the game with five three-pointers total.
Despite the Bears’ struggles, Wilkinson managed to score his points at the free-throw line, going 7-9 from the charity stripe, but this did not compensate for their overall shooting inefficiency. Their 50-point score was well below their usual high-scoring performances; Cal had previously enjoyed six straight games scoring 80 points or more for the first time since 1972.
Coach Madsen lamented the impact of San Diego State’s defensive scheme, stating, "San Diego State completely took us out of our offense". He highlighted how his team struggled to find open looks, particularly for their shooters, limiting their effectiveness considerably.
Moving forward, the Aztecs will look to keep their momentum alive as they prepare to host Utah State on December 28, aiming to solidify their standing as contenders within the Mountain West Conference. The game against Cal also served as a moment of redemption, considering their challenging travel and preparation preceding the match.
Both teams now have time to regroup, but for the Aztecs, this victory against California is not only a significant accomplishment but also lays the groundwork for future success as they face increasingly challenging games head-on.
