SAN DIEGO — With a San Diego State conference-record-equaling steals total while also tying the team's season scoring high, Miles Byrd continued to soar in conference play as the Aztecs beat Colorado State 75-60 on Tuesday night at Viejas Arena.
Byrd swiped seven steals to equal DeAndre Moore’s program Mountain West record (also against the Rams, in 2003), tying for second-most in a game in program history and becoming the first Aztec to do so since Chase Tapley in 2011. The Stockton-born sophomore added 25 points and a career high five makes from downtown.
Why focus on the steals?
"I feel like the past two years I've been a defensive guy and I'm glad I was able to show it against a really good team — especially a good offensive team," Byrd said.
SDSU (11-4, 4-2 Mountain West Conference) took control of the game with a combination of relentless inside-outside attack that saw the Scarlet and Black rain nine 3’s for the fourth time this season against DI opposition while shooting 51.6% from inside. The Aztecs also forced CSU (10-7, 4-2) into a season-high 20 turnovers and had a 22-8 edge in scores off giveaways.
"We did a good job of not giving them fast break baskets, we made it a half court game, and then the other key stat...we forced 20 turnovers and only (allowed) nine assists," said head coach Brian Dutcher.
BJ Davis added 7 of his 12 points in the second half, but perhaps his most critical basket was a pull-up, top of the key three at the end of the first half to cut down a 6-0 CSU run and send the Aztecs to the break with a 35-29 edge.
SDSU had focused on driving to the basket out of the gate, taking 10 of their first 11 shots from inside and getting slashing baskets from Davis and Byrd.
"Our coaches did a good job of emphasizing for us to play off two feet, being on balance and playing for each other," Davis said. "With out movement not being so stagnant not being so stagnant, having guys green and set screens constantly (to) keep the defense moving and allow us to get good looks."
However the Rams made three of their first six shots, all from downtown, and had four of their first five makes from beyond the arc. Nique Clifford knocked down the fourth triple, then made a layup with just over eight minutes gone to give the visitors what would be their final lead of the game.
Wayne McKinney III came off the bench and got involved immediately, scoring 7 points in just over four minutes of his 9 points for the game, while Pharaoh Compton added 4 of his eight points on the night. The SDSU bench outscored CSU 20-2 overall.
The Aztecs made 5 of 10 straight attempts from beyond the arc over a 8:13 stretch that saw Byrd make 3 of 4, then electrify the crowd with the first of his two steal-and-slams on the night.
"Byrd, I think that anybody who will watch him sees that he plays unafraid," Dutcher said. "Some of those shots he pulls up on the fastbreak from NBA range and beyond he is unafraid, and when they go in we're really good and he was making them again today."
SDSU scored 8 of the first 10 points in the second half, building their first double-digit lead at 17:16 on a depth charge by Byrd that made it 43-31. It would never get closer than 10 points from there on out.
While the teams finished with relatively close overall shooting percentages for the game — the Aztecs shot 44.6% to the Rams 42.6% — CSU ended up taking 28 of their 47 shots from beyond the arc in the game, making nine.
Jalen Lake led the Rams with 15 points, while Kylan Evans scored 14 points on 4 of 6 shooting from 3-point land and preseason all conference selection Clifford was held to 11 points on 5 of 16 shooting while committing six turnovers — three of which were steals by Byrd.
"I always like playing against the best competition, that's when I feel like I play my best," Byrd said. "They have a really good offense to to what they do so defensively we were working about pressing the ball."
The win was the Aztecs' second in three games over a seven day stretch and was the Scarlet and Black's 35th win in a game following a loss over their last 39 times. Viejas Arena has been a near-perfect launching pad to bounce back as the team is 37-1 in their last 38 games after a loss when the next game is at home.
SDSU completes the two-game home stand against UNLV at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 before heading on the road for two against Air Force on Jan. 22 and Nevada on Jan. 25.
This story was updated at 11:57 p.m.