San Diego State cruises past Fresno State 83-60

On Tuesday night, San Diego State showcased a well-rounded performance, overpowering Fresno State 83-60 at Viejas Arena. This win marked the Aztecs’ 12th consecutive victory against the Bulldogs, a streak that originates from March 2019.

Even after struggling with a 3-14 record from beyond the arc in the first half, San Diego State held a comfortable 43-23 lead at halftime. The Aztecs capitalized on 11 turnovers from Fresno State during the first half, scoring 13 points off those mistakes and finishing with 10 layups and four dunks interspersed throughout the initial 20 minutes.

The Aztecs (18-6, 11-4) secured their seventh win in the last eight games, solidifying their dominance in Tuesday’s match. They led for 39:21 minutes of the game, taking full advantage of a Fresno State team that has claimed only one win in over two months.

Leading from the opening tip, San Diego State did not require a dramatic comeback, which had been a pattern in recent weeks. The Aztecs maintained control throughout, increasing their lead to as much as 32 points in the closing minutes.

Fresno State (5-22, 1-15) will continue their road trip, with a matchup against Air Force this weekend. Their sole conference victory occurred against the Falcons in Fresno last month.

Here are three key takeaways from Tuesday’s game.

NICK BOYD ACHIEVES 1,000 POINTS

Nick Boyd, a senior guard in his inaugural season with the Aztecs following a transfer from Florida Atlantic, continued his impressive play. After recording a career-high 24 points in Saturday’s victory over Boise State, Boyd scored 13 of his total 19 points in the first half, contributing six assists within those first 20 minutes. He began the game with 995 career points and quickly surpassed the milestone.

After leading the Aztecs in scoring five times over a six-game stretch in December and January, Boyd has reclaimed that role over the past week. His performance has aligned with San Diego State’s recent success in conference games. With upcoming matches against Utah State and New Mexico, the Aztecs will rely on Boyd to be at his peak.

MAGOON GWATH CONTINUES HIS RISE

Having recently earned his third Mountain West Freshman of the Week honor, San Diego State’s Magoon Gwath is demonstrating consistent improvement during his breakout redshirt freshman season.

After racking up six points, three rebounds, and three blocks in the first half, Gwath displayed his shooting range by sinking two three-pointers early in the second half.

Spending 23 minutes on the court during the lopsided victory, Gwath ended the game with 14 points from six of eight shooting, alongside six rebounds and three blocks. He will have a chance to shine in Saturday’s game at Utah State, potentially eyeing another conference accolade.

LOCAL PLAYERS EXCEL

Senior guard Wayne McKinney, playing his final collegiate season after transferring from crosstown rival USD, logged a season-high 27 minutes for the Aztecs on Tuesday.

He responded with a commendable performance, recording 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists while sinking three of San Diego State’s eight three-pointers that night.

On the opposing team, Fresno State forward Alex Crawford, a former teammate of McKinney at Coronado High in San Diego, also scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds on Tuesday. Together, the duo averaged over 40 points and 19 rebounds per game, leading the Islanders to a 24-5 record in 2021.

Kimo Ferrari, a notable player from Francis Parker High, is concluding his college career with the Aztecs after three seasons at Brown University. Against Fresno State, Ferrari contributed five points, three rebounds, and an assist.