Aztecs can’t catch up to the Runnin’ Rebels, falling at Viejas Arena

SAN DIEGO -- Bobblehead Night for Coach Dutcher ended with a 76-68 Aztec loss at Viejas Arena. Aztec guard Miles Byrd's 21-point night isn't enough to hold off the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Dedan Thomas Jr.'s 19-point showcase as they take the Mountain West Conference away victory on Saturday night. 

The Mountain West Conference regular-season showdown was the first meeting between the two teams this season as SDSU travels to Thomas & Mack Center on March 4 for the second of the home and away regular season conference matchups. 

Both teams sat 4-2 in Mountain West Conference play coming off a victory in their latest games as they looked to bolster their conference standing for both Mountain West tournament play and NCAA Tournament bids. 

The Aztecs struggled early in the first half with their first field goal coming at the 14:09 mark of the first half after going 0-5 to start the game. 

The lack of points off turnovers created and fastbreak attempts played a large role in the eight-point deficit going into the halftime break at 31-23 for UNLV. The Aztecs created seven turnovers and only recorded four points, with zero points coming off fastbreaks.

Shooting hardships for the Aztecs as they shot for 26.9% from the field and 19% from the three as six of their 23 first-half points came from the charity stripe. 

Aztec scoring leader Miles Byrd ended his first half scoreless going 0-7 with 0-4 three-point tries.

“I definitely know for a fact there were multiple times in the first half where I let my focus kind of go out from the game,” Aztec guard Miles Byrd said on the struggles early in the game. “I was either talking to refs or upset with myself. As one of the older guys and leaders I need to do a better job just helping out some of the younger guys in a big moment like that.”

The second half saw the Aztecs go on multiple runs but the double-digit deficit continued to be far to reach for SDSU as the Runnin' Rebels answered back with their momentum-ending plays.  

Byrd found his finishing touch and caught fire in the second half, a large part of the multiple runs and momentum-swinging baskets that cut the deficit to as close as three at the 9:47 mark of the second half. 

Byrd ended the night with 21 points connecting on four threes. 

Senior Aztec guard Nick Boyd also chipped in with 16 points for the night. 

UNLV’s leading scorer Dedan Thomas Jr. controlled the game making timely plays either scoring or finding the open man to shatter Aztec momentum throughout the second half.

The Runnin’ Rebels MVP of the game guard Thomas Jr. finished with 19 points and added five assists. Thomas Jr.’s perfect 10-10 free throw line performance continued to ice Aztec runs throughout the second period. 

With the Aztec's final lead coming at the 7:01 mark of the first half, they were caught chasing the Runnin’ Rebels for the remaining time of the game as they only led for two minutes and thirty-seven seconds. 

The Aztec's largest deficit of the night came at the 16:55 mark in the second half as they trailed by 13 points, 41-28.

UNLV took the Mountain West Conference regular season away victory 76-68 at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena improving to an 11-7 overall record and 5-2 in Mountain West standings.

At the post-game press conference, Aztec Coach Brian Dutcher spoke on the loss and moving forward after a defeat. 

“We fought our way back into the game,” Dutcher said. “But you lose if you look at statistically, they outrebounded us. We had one more turnover than they had and I think they made 11 more free throws. So when you look at the statistical categories, they beat us in all of them. That's what happens when you lose a game. You don't have to win all of them, but you have to win at least one of them.”

“The beauty of college basketball, these young guys they're resilient so they don't like losing,” Dutcher said. “But they won't sit there and obsess about it like coaches do. So when we get back to practice on Monday, they'll be ready to go. You'll have a smile on their face, they'll be ready to get back to work and that's how you have a chance to continue to win.”

Following the loss, the Aztecs drop to 11-5 in overall record and 4-3 in Mountain West Conference play. They drop their third home match of the season with their home record now reading 6-3, 2-2 in the Mountain West.

The Aztecs look to return to the win column as they head up to Colorado to face the Air Force Academy Falcons (3-15,0-7 Mountain West) at Clune Arena on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. and live on CBS Sports Network.