San Diego State asserted its dominance over Colorado State on Tuesday night, cruising to a 73-50 victory at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs' impressive performance was fueled by a balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures. Reese Dixon-Waters led the charge, pouring in 16 points to pace San Diego State.
The Aztecs set the tone early, taking a 33-27 lead into halftime. However, it was the second half where they truly pulled away, outscoring Colorado State 40-23. Pharaoh Compton and Miles Byrd joined Dixon-Waters in double figures, scoring 15 and 10 points, respectively. Compton also chipped in with 5 rebounds, showcasing his all-around skills.
For Colorado State, Jevin Muniz was the lone bright spot, finishing with 9 points and 5 assists. Josh Pascarelli added 8 points and 5 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the Rams' sluggish offense. The team's 50 points marked a season low, and their 27 first-half points were a far cry from the 72 points San Diego State was predicted to allow, according to CHD Scout's pre-game forecast.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
Speaking of predictions, CHD Scout correctly picked San Diego State to win, albeit by a much closer margin of 5.2 points. The actual 23-point margin of victory was a surprise, but it underscored the Aztecs' superiority on the night. The win improved San Diego State's record to 15-5, while Colorado State fell to 12-9.
As the season enters its critical stretch, this result has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. For San Diego State, the victory counts as a Quadrant 3 win, which should help bolster their NET ranking of 47. On the other hand, Colorado State absorbed a Quadrant 1 loss, which may hurt their chances of securing an at-large bid. The Rams' current NET ranking of 94 leaves them on the bubble, and they must regroup and refocus to stay in the tournament conversation.
The convincing nature of San Diego State's win suggests they are a team to watch in the coming weeks. With a strong defense and a balanced offense, they have the potential to make a deep run in the postseason. As for Colorado State, they must bounce back quickly from this disappointing loss and find a way to regain their footing in the competitive landscape of college basketball. For now, San Diego State's dominant performance will be the talking point, and the Aztecs want to build on this momentum as they pursue a tournament berth.