Las Vegas usually knows what they are doing, but when they put the Aztecs as 12 point favorites over UC Irvine, there was bewilderment both in San Diego and Irvine.
Anyone that watched these two teams play had a feeling that this game was going to come down to the wire. And that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday night in Viejas Arena.
Down one, Matt Bradley held the ball with eight seconds left, he drove to the basket, and as the defense collapsed on him he kicked the ball out to Micah Parrish, who hit an open three-pointer to give the Aztecs a 71-69 victory.
Micah Parrish hitting the big shot was definitely not a surprise for anyone watching all season. But the surprise element was that the Aztecs made their last 3 three point shots of the game just to make their recent numbers even look miserable. The last two by Adam Seiko and the already mentioned Parrish.
Coming into this game against Occidental Friday night, the Aztecs were just a paltry 11 of their last 58 three pointers. To drive that point home, take away the final 3 made against UC Irvine and you are left with 8.
So when the Aztecs hosted Oxy, all eyes were on the Aztecs to see if their sudden hot streak to end the UCI game would carry over.
The starting lineup was different for this matchup as G-Darrion Trammell sat out with a hamstring injury. In his place Coach Dutcher opted to insert Micah Parrish for his stellar play.
The Aztecs took down Occidental 95-57 to push their record to 6-2 overall and 4-0 inside Viejas Arena.
But the story of the game was indeed the hot shooting of three pointers from the all of a sudden smoldering Aztecs. The key number to remember for the Aztecs?—59. As in 59% from three point range.
In total the Aztecs set a new Viejas Arena record with 19 three pointers on the evening.
SDSU was led by Adam Seiko and Micah Parrish once again tonight. Seiko the Aztecs leading scorer with 20 points on 6-9 three pointers and Micah Parrish added 14 on 4-9 from behind the arc.
It took a few minutes for SDSU to distance themselves far beyond Oxy this evening but behind Adam Seiko’s amazing first half they did exactly that.
Seiko seeking his masters in counseling and school psychology, returned for his extra COVID-19 season to the Mesa in hopes of showing more of what his sharp shooting can do. Tonight was proof of just that when given the opportunity.
Other Aztecs in action: Keshad Johnson 6 pts, Nathan Mensah 4 pts, Jaedon Ledee with 7 points, Matt Bradley with 9 points (3 three pointers) and Sons of Montezuma’s newly announced first SDSU basketball NIL team member, Lamont Butler with 9 points (2 three pointers).
His 5 first half three pointers put the game away early. But the other bright spot of the night was the ability to watch talented young players Miles Byrd 8 pts (3 three pointers), Elijah Saunders 4 points, Demarshay Johnson Jr. 8 pts, Cade Alger a 3 pointer, and Jared Barnett with a 3 pointer.
These chances to get the youngsters in with some real live game experience are crucial in their development and in SDSU’s coaching assessments of their progress.
The Aztecs next face Troy (6-2) on Monday, December 5 at 7pm at home in Viejas Arena.
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