SAN DIEGO – The No.23 ranked Aztecs survived a pesky Cal Baptist University basketball team Wednesday evening for an 85-77 scare of a win. The win improves SDSU to 7-2 overall and for now their #23 ranking.
It was a first time matchup between the two southern California schools, but it will be one that Coach Dutcher will remind his young Aztecs to remember the rest of the season.
Miles Byrd led all SDSU scorers with 19 points on 5 of 9 shooting, along with 4 three-pointers, and some dazzling plays that would’ve sunk most opponents mentally. Meanwhile, Nick Boyd notched 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting, while also dishing out 8 assists. He started off hot to set the tone early before taking a flagrant elbow that sidelined him for several minutes in the first half.
Tonight the Aztecs were going to need every early point and all of that toughness that these two stars have provided as leaders.
It was a game where all players on the Aztecs box score contributed in points, but it was Miles Heide tonight with his second stand-out performance in a row that stands out from the contributors off the bench. His career high 10 points and 5 rebounds were a welcomed sight for the Aztecs building a 2nd half lead.
But the story of the game was how the Lancers stormed all the way back from a 19-point deficit to make Brian Dutcher’s team sweat til the end and the Aztecs fans squirm in their seats. Or should we say watch nervously up at the top of the arena exit doors awaiting the final buzzer to race out to the campus structure lots.
The Lancers however are going to watch the game tape and wonder how they didn’t complete the upset. CBU dominated on the boards 31-23 and in particular the offensive glass holding the edge 17-7, bringing about an irate coach Dutcher towards his team from on the bench.
The Aztecs shot a better field goal pct. at 54.9% over CBU’s 45%, but the telling difference offensively that will drive the Lancers nuts, was the Aztecs being rewarded 15 more free throw attempts (16-20) over the Lancers (5-5).
Despite all of the electrifying passes behind the back, steals turned to breakaway dunks, and other highlight worthy plays by the Aztecs, the gritty Lancers earned their respect tonight. Coming into tonight the all senior led starting five had already earned a victory over Mountain West conference cellar dweller Fresno State.
CBU pulled the game within five points under a minute left when they rolled the dice choosing not to foul but earn a stop. It had been working after all up to that point as the Aztecs missed free throws, rebounds, and loose balls.
CBU’s Dominique Daniel’s Jr. (22 points, 8-21 FGs, 6 assists) was active and gave the Aztecs fits all night. Daniels made it a 4-point game with under 10 seconds left to go when Miles Byrd knocked down two free throws to put the game away. The Lancers air balled a few last ditch 3-point shots and the Aztecs stay ranked.
You never like to see your team dwindle away a huge lead. The Aztecs tonight scored just 8 points in slightly under the last 7 minutes of the game.
But fortunately for the Mountain West’s lone Top-25 ranked team the Aztecs, when it mattered they held onto the ball and made the plays to seal the win. For the moment, the last second ball control issues that plagued some of the more veteran teams in this program’s past have not appeared with this young Aztecs of the 2024-2025 season.
If there are such things as bad losses, then that must hold true there are bad wins, right? With a ten day layover between tonight and their next opponent CAL on December 21st on a neutral court in San Jose, CA, it will be interesting to see if Coach Dutcher and staff use the game tape as teaching opportunities.
Or perhaps they should just burn the game tape.
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