LAS VEGAS – San Diego State shocked sixth-ranked Houston in an overtime thriller at the Players Era Festival on November 30, 2024, hosted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Aztecs overcame a 13-point deficit to secure it’s biggest win of the season, a 73-70 victory in an intense and defensive-heavy game.
This win showcasing resilience and clutch performances against one of the nation’s top teams. The Aztecs hope this victory will make the college basketball world rephrase that to two of the nation’s top teams.
The game began with Aztecs hot out of the gate early. The Cougars used a 13-0 scoring run in the first half to seize control however, leading by five at halftime. Either way this contest held with it some serious defensive efforts on both sides.
San Diego State struggled offensively during the early periods, but their defense kept them within striking distance. Houston’s Emanuel Sharp and LJ Cryer combined for 44 points, including sharp shooting from beyond the arc, to help Houston maintain its lead for much of regulation
San Diego State’s turnaround came in the second half, led by guard Miles Byrd, who tallied 18 points and six rebounds. Key defensive stops and contributions from Nick Boyd, who added 12 points and seven rebounds, allowed the Aztecs to claw back.
The game saw a pivotal moment in the final seconds of regulation when after a missed Houston free throw, San Diego State tied the score at 65 with two clutch free throws of their own by Miles Byrd, forcing overtime.
In overtime, the Aztecs displayed grit and composure. Critical defensive plays by the Aztecs were forged all night long including five blocks from Magoon Gwath. At one point in the OT a for sure dunk was eliminated by a travel call when the presence of Gwath disrupted the Houston player’s moves to avoid another block.
The play that shifted momentum firmly in San Diego State’s favor however was Miles Byrd’s scoop and score layup with just 1:22 left. The dazzling play put the Aztecs up by 3 points, forced a timeout call by Houston, and sent the MGM arena crowd into full on upset mode. Houston had chances to respond but faltered in crucial moments, with missed shots and costly turnovers
The win marks a significant achievement for San Diego State, showcasing their ability to compete against elite competition. It also highlights the success of the Players Era Festival, which offered substantial NIL opportunities and a competitive platform for participating teams.
The BIGs Step-Up
Enough cannot be said about Jared Coleman-Jones and Pharoah Compton’s performance on the night. Coleman-Jones was able to knock down 3 of 4 big time three point shots and repeatedly displayed great pace and spacing in the offensive sets.
Compton’s 21 minutes off the bench really ignited the team with his 13 points on 6 of 11 field goals. His size and toughness really provided an attitude down low for this upset win. As both Coleman-Jones and Compton continue to get familiar with their roles in the offense there is plenty to get excited about. Showing they can finish at the rim will be something they will need to continue to show they can do.
Myles Byrd Heating Up
The stand out wing player has really started heat up his game following a turned ankle injury that sidelined him one game and hampered his performance against Gonzaga. Byrd is now averaging 12.8 points on the season, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks. His length makes him a defensive advantage at times on other wing players and his energy is unmatched in that department as well.
Though in 5 games so for he is hitting 32% from three point range, as he continues to round into form his ability to get to the free throw line should make him even more of an asset for this team. Currently he is knocking down 92.3% of his shots at the charity stripe.
The Standard is Set
The Aztecs now with a few games under their belts this season have established the standard of where they need to perform. One of the stand out features of this game was in the crunch moments of the overtime. The players were sure handed and there were very little wasted possessions.
In the recent past the Aztecs were occasionally snake-bitten on turnovers and or questionable possessions with the clock winding down. There was none of that taking place on this night.
Moving forward these games of the Players Era Fest really established confidence needed to propel the rest of the season. Valuable minutes and experiences for this young team to draw back upon when they face adversity the rest of the way should prove to be key.
Knowing they actually have beaten two ranked opponents have put their own minds thinking they can beat anyone, but for bracket makers it equally puts the Aztecs back in their minds and consciousness among the nation’s best programs.
Two issues that the Aztecs avoided allowing them to get bit in the end were free throws and rebounding. SDSU went to the line ten more times than Houston but were only able to hit 18 of 27 of them at 66%. SDSU was only out-rebounded 40-38, however they allowed 18 offensive boards to the Cougars. Credit to the Aztecs for not allowing too many points off of those offensive rebounds, but definitely something to clean up.
San Diego State now heads to a peculiar Mountain West opener on the road against the Fresno State Bulldogs Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30pm PST.
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