The San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team continues to build momentum this season, clinching their ninth consecutive victory with a commanding performance against the California Golden Bears, winning 71-50 at SAP Arena, San Jose.
SDSU faced significant travel challenges leading up to the game, having to navigate fog-related flight cancellations. Despite these hurdles, the Aztecs managed to shake off the rust, demonstrating their resilience on the court.
Head Coach Mark Madsen of Cal noted the impact of San Diego State's defense on his team's performance, particularly during the first half. "San Diego State completely took us out of our offense, especially in the first half," Madsen remarked. He also highlighted the turnovers his team committed, commenting, "We got to find a way not to turn the ball over 18 times. I take responsibility forthat. Our defense was okay initially, but faltered significantly later."
The game was marked by early defensive struggles, with Cal briefly holding the lead until SDSU's Pharaoh Compton scored on a breakaway layup, putting the Aztecs up 11-10—a lead they maintained for the remainder of the match. By halftime, SDSU held a 25-16 advantage.
Despite the lack of offensive firepower, Cal's player performance provided glimpses of potential. Freshman point guard Jeremiah Wilkerson emerged as Cal's leading scorer with 13 points, but struggled with his shooting rhythm going just 3-for-11 from the floor and failing to connect on his three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, the Aztecs found strength through their disciplined performance, showcasing their defensive prowess. San Diego State's strategy focused on generating turnovers, and they capitalized on second-chance opportunities throughout the game. Madsen acknowledged the challenge of overcoming SDSU's persistent pressure, admitting his team needed to be more cohesive to combat it effectively.
Center Mady Sissoko led the rebounding effort for Cal, grabbing 11 boards, but expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance. "I'm just trying to be a team player," Sissoko said, reflecting on the missed opportunities to contribute more defensively. "I made a lot of mistakes today. To have 11 boards—I'm supposed to do justthat."
The Aztecs maintained control of the game, finishing with 71 points and limiting the Bears to 25% shooting. Despite the Bears' strong defensive effort—holding SDSU to 37% shooting—the offensive struggles proved insurmountable for Cal. Madsen noted, "Even though we held them down, we just couldn't capitalize on our defensive stops. That was the difference maker today."
Cal will look to learn from this loss as they prepare for their upcoming game at Pitt on New Year's Day. The experience against SDSU, even if disappointing, is poised to provide valuable insights moving forward.
