Defense, Seniors Shine in Win Over UCLA
Senior forward Matt Mitchell (15 points) led the way offensively, and San Diego State played its patented brand of defense in knocking off No. 21/22 UCLA 73-58 at Viejas Arena on opening night of the 2020-21 season.
Senior guard Jordan Schakel scored 15 points, and senior guard Terrell Gomez (transfer from Cal State Northridge) added 10 points for the Aztecs. Junior forward Nathan Mensah had 4 points and 7 rebounds in his first game action since missing the final 19 games of the 2019-20 season with a pulmonary embolism.
Jordan Schakel from DOWNTOWN and he is 3/5 from deep tonight 🔥@Aztec_MBB pushes its lead to 11. pic.twitter.com/vpYM48N2pY
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 26, 2020
The @Aztec_MBB bench was FEELIN' that three! pic.twitter.com/E9NemoVM6r
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 26, 2020
Senior transfer Joshua Tomaić (Maryland) had the best game of his career and showed what type of impact he can have for this San Diego State team. He scored 9 points in his Aztecs debut.
After a slow start, the Aztecs took control of the game in the first half with stifling defense and timely outside shooting. SDSU shot 39 percent from three (9-of-23) for the contest and held UCLA to just 40 percent shooting overall (33 percent from three).
A perfect play coming out of the timeout for @Aztec_MBB and they get the 2️⃣.
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 26, 2020
SDSU heads into the half with a six point lead over the No. 22 team in the nation! pic.twitter.com/0X9VTqqLFP
Junior forward Aguek Arop had his best game in Aztec red and black. Arop scored 10 points and added 4 rebounds. Offensively, he created a ton of good looks by moving without the ball, and his presence was felt all night on the defensive end.
Slamma Jamma!
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 26, 2020
The @Aztec_MBB offense is HUMMING! pic.twitter.com/QaGmDLQYDU
By the second half, senior point guard Trey Pulliam (8 points, 6 assists) had settled into his new role as the initiator of the offense.
But again, the story of this game was the defense. San Diego State forced the Bruins into 15 turnovers. 17 of the Bruins 58 points came from the free throw line, as they could not get anything going in their half court offensive set. The Aztecs blocked only 2 shots but they challenged many more and collected 22 defensive rebounds, limiting UCLA to just 9 second-chance points.
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San Diego State was the better team all night, and looked the team more worthy of a national ranking. The Aztecs will be back in action on Friday against UC Irvine. The Anteaters lost to Pepperdine 86-72 in the early game Wednesday.
That will do it! @Aztec_MBB surprises the No. 22 team in the country, 73-58. The Aztecs win their 4th straight game over a top 25 team at home! pic.twitter.com/yAvp0U3dzF
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 26, 2020
