The San Diego State Aztecs dominated the Nevada Wolf Pack 71-57 in a non-conference matchup at Viejas Arena, with Reese Dixon-Waters leading the charge with 20 points. The Aztecs, who have been on a tear lately, averaging 76.2 points per game over their last 5 contests, looked every bit the part of a top-tier team, outscoring Nevada by 11 points in the first half. The Wolf Pack, on the other hand, struggled to find their footing, scoring just 25 points in the first 20 minutes, a far cry from their average of 76.8 points per game over their last 5 outings. San Diego State's defense was stifling, holding Nevada to just 36.5% shooting from the field, including a dismal 2-14 from beyond the arc.
As the game wore on, it became clear that San Diego State's balanced attack was going to be too much for Nevada to handle. BJ Davis chipped in with 14 points and 5 assists, while Magoon Gwath added 13 points, helping the Aztecs to a 36-25 lead at the break. Nevada's Elijah Price did his best to keep his team in it, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Aztecs' stifling defense. The Wolf Pack's recent trend of outscoring opponents by 3.6 points per game over their last 5 contests was nowhere to be found, as they were outscored by 14 points on the night. With this win, San Diego State improved to 18-6 on the season, while Nevada fell to 17-8.
San Diego State's Defense Stifles Nevada
The stat line doesn't do justice to the impact that Dixon-Waters had on the game. He hit several big shots, including a pair of three-pointers in the second half that helped to seal the win for San Diego State. On the other hand, Nevada's Corey Camper Jr. had a solid game with 16 points and 5 rebounds, but he was largely a one-man show, as the rest of the Wolf Pack's offense struggled to find its rhythm. Tayshawn Comer, who had been a key contributor for Nevada in recent games, was held to just 6 points on 2-10 shooting, a disappointing outing for the sophomore guard. As for San Diego State, their bench play was a major factor in the win, outscoring Nevada's reserves 15-5, with 10 of those points coming from Micah Parrish, who hit a pair of three-pointers in the second half.
The Aztecs' win was not entirely unexpected, given their recent form and the fact that they were playing at home. CHD Scout had predicted a 7-point win for San Diego State, and while the actual margin was 7 points more than that, it's clear that the model had a good read on the game.
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The key factor that the model likely picked up on was San Diego State's stifling defense, which has been a hallmark of the team's success this season. The Aztecs have held opponents to just 61.8 points per game over their last 5 contests, and they were able to shut down Nevada's offense, holding them to just 57 points on the night. The model also likely took into account San Diego State's recent trend of outscoring opponents by 14.4 points per game over their last 5 outings, a trend that continued with this win.
As for what this win means for San Diego State's tournament picture, it's clear that they are solidly in the mix. With an 18-6 record and a NET ranking of 42, the Aztecs are in a good position to make a deep run in the postseason.
This win could potentially lock up a seed line for San Diego State, depending on how the rest of the season plays out. For Nevada, on the other hand, this loss is a setback, but not a devastating one. The Wolf Pack still have a strong record and a decent NET ranking, and they want to bounce back from this loss as they continue their push for a tournament bid. With 7 games left on their schedule, Nevada must win at least 4 of those to feel secure about their tournament chances, but for now, they remain squarely on the bubble, with a quad 1 loss that won't hurt them too much in the eyes of the selection committee.
The Aztecs want to build on this win as they head into the final stretch of the season. With a tough schedule ahead of them, including games against Utah State and Boise State, San Diego State must continue to play at a high level if they want to make a deep run in the tournament. For now, though, they can enjoy this win, which was a reflection of their balanced attack and stifling defense. The Aztecs outrebounded Nevada 38-32, including 12-8 on the offensive glass, and they also outshot the Wolf Pack from the field, 44.4% to 36.5%. It was a dominating performance from start to finish, and one that will give San Diego State a lot of momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season. With this win, the Aztecs improved to 4-1 over their last 5 games, and they want to keep that streak going as they take on their next opponent.