A rough start set the stage for a comeback attempt as San Diego State faced off against No. 12 UCLA in a preseason exhibition game, highlighting areas for improvement.
Fresh off a disappointing performance in the NCAA Tournament, where they were trounced by North Carolina, the San Diego State Aztecs looked to bounce back. The exhibition game at Viejas Arena against UCLA was meant to be a test, a chance to gauge the team's progress. But the beginning was far from encouraging.
After just 7.5 minutes, the scoreboard told a grim story: Aztecs 0, Bruins 17. This early deficit, according to Coach Brian Dutcher, was meant to reveal the team's strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. The final score was Bruins 67, Aztecs 60, but the game offered more than just a loss.
The Aztecs struggled initially, missing their first nine shots and committing 10 turnovers. It wasn't until Louisiana Tech transfer guard Sean Newman Jr. sank a 3-pointer that the Aztecs finally got on the board, halting the rhythmic clapping of the home crowd. Sophomore guard Taj DeGourville acknowledged the team's struggle, saying it served as a wake-up call.
The second half showed promise. The Aztecs improved their ball movement and offense, leading to a 17-5 run that cut the lead to just three points. The Aztecs outscored UCLA 60-50 over the final 32 minutes and 37-28 in the second half. However, key players like Magoon Gwath and Miles Byrd were not at their best, impacting the team's performance.
Coach Dutcher found value in the exhibition, pointing out the need for improvement. He noted the team's shooting percentage in the second half, a significant improvement from the first. The coach's main goal was to identify areas to work on, even if it meant a loss.
The starting lineup, featuring Taj DeGourville, BJ Davis, Reese Dixon-Waters, Jeremiah Oden, and Miles Heide, showed inexperience early on, with turnovers and missed shots plaguing the team. By halftime, the Aztecs had a shooting percentage of 4 of 21 and 14 turnovers. But a better second half performance, including a key shot from Dixon-Waters, energized the team and the crowd.
Coach Dutcher pointed out the importance of sticking to fundamentals, which the team strayed from at times. UCLA's Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark proved challenging, scoring 18 and 13 points, respectively. UCLA coach Mick Cronin saw the game as a valuable test for his team as well.
Reese Dixon-Waters led the Aztecs with 19 points. Taj DeGourville added 10 points, while other players contributed between two and six points. The game was played under standard foul rules, with Newman and Pharaoh Compton fouling out for SDSU. Cronin acknowledged the physical style of play the Aztecs are known for.
But here's where it gets controversial... Do you think the early struggles were due to inexperience, or were there deeper issues? Were the second-half adjustments a sign of resilience, or just a temporary fix?
The Aztecs have almost two weeks before their next exhibition game against USD on October 29, followed by the regular season opener against Long Beach State on November 4.
What are your thoughts on the team's performance? Share your opinions in the comments below!
