SAN DIEGO – San Diego State forward Tae Simmons said he believes the ball finds energy.
Normally that phrase is used in basketball to describe offense, but the first-year pivot believes it to be true on both sides of the ball.
Hard to argue, after Simmons scored a career-high 15 points and matched his career-best of seven boards while pressed into 14 minutes of action. San Diego State (4-3) earned a much-needed 77-66 win, topping the Utah Valley Wolverines on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.
Simmons and Jeremiah Oden (7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal in 17 minutes) filled in for starter Miles Heide, who landed hard after being undercut by Utah Valley (5-3) forward Isaac Davis at 5:27 of the first half in what was ultimately determined to be a flagrant foul.
“I was like, ‘okay, just let me go out there and do my stuff,’” Simmons said. “‘Here’s my chance to go out there and make another impact,’ and that’s what I did.”
When Simmons first checked in at the 10:09 mark, SDSU did not have an offensive rebound. He and Magoon Gwath combined for SDSU’s first offensive board, then he would snatch three more for his game-high four O-boards before halftime. Simmons had four of the 12 on the offensive glass for the Scarlet and Black in the game.
“My mentality is ‘how bad do you really want it?’ I felt like I wanted it more than the guy in front of me so I was just going to go get it,” Simmons said.
The Aztecs ultimately won the paint battle 34-26, with a 14-11 edge in second chance points. Simmons had four of those second chance points, while Pharaoh Compton ultimately added four more crucially in the second half as part of his 12 point, five rebound performance as part of the bench brigade.
Heide did not return for the remainder of the game, head coach Brian Dutcher said he did not want to put him back in ‘because you know how backs are,’ and said after treatment he'd be worked back in.
"He'll get to the doctors, he'll get his treatment, and we'll ease him back in," Dutcher said. "He'll be sore for a day, there's no question, but Miles is a tough kid, he rarely misses anything, so he'll find his way back on to the court for sure."
Still, despite the rough fall for the starter, it was hard not to notice the multifaceted performance by the true freshman.
“He can do it all, he can knock the 3 down, he can make free throws, he can finish, he can rebound, he can guard, there’s nothing really he can’t do,” top-scoring guard BJ Davis said. “Having an all-around play like that, especially for him to be that young (is) incredible.”
Wait, shoot the 3?
Yes, Simmons made a corner triple against Long Beach State in the season opener.
But when Jackson Holcombe made a pair of free throws — part of his ridiculous 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals stat line — that gave the Wolverines what would be their only lead to start the second half. Simmons then knocked down a depth charge off a find from Reese-Dixon Waters that put the Scarlet and Black ahead for good.
Simmons was a key 15 points as part of a 59-point effort by the bench brigade, the highest output all season and most since scoring 60 points against St. Katherine College on December 27, 2013. It was the first time the bench scored 50 against a DI opponent since January 30, 2021, when the non-starters lit up Wyoming for 50 points.
With a roster as deep as SDSU has, it’s all about maximizing minutes, and Simmons more than made the most of his and showed how he’s been approaching his first DI season.
“My mentality is just whatever the team needs me to do to win, that’s what I’m going to do,” Simmons said. “Whether it’s…two minutes, 10 minutes, whatever time I’m out there, I’m just going to play my hardest and that’s what is gonna get me on the court.”
San Diego State faces Lamar in their final game before opening Mountain West action. The Aztecs welcome the Cardinals for a 7 p.m. tip on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Viejas Arena.