Ysa Garcia - The Sporting Tribune
San Diego State Guard Wayne McKinney III (3) shooting a three during a non-conference match against Occidental College, Tuesday November 12, 2024 in San Diego, Ca
FINAL: No. 3 Gonzaga 80, San Diego State 67
SAN DIEGO — It's the biggest regular season non-conference game at Viejas Arena in nearly a decade for the San Diego State Aztecs as they welcome the No. 3/4 Gonzaga Bulldogs to The Mesa at 7 p.m. on Monday night.
SDSU (2-0) comes into their six ever meeting with the Bulldogs (3-0) after wins over UC San Diego and Occidental, while Gonzaga has home wins over then-No. 7/7 Baylor, Arizona State and UMass Lowell.
Five Aztecs scored in double figures in the 100-49 win over the Tigers on Nov. 12, led by 16 apiece from Wayne McKinney III, BJ Davis and Magoon Gwath. The Scarlet and Black scorched the strings from down town in the first half, making 11-of-19 en route to making 18 in the contest — one off the Viejas Arena high set against Occidental on Dec. 2, 2022. SDSU also held the Tigers to 29.3% shooting for the game, after holding UC San Diego to 32.8% shooting in the regular season opener.
Miles Byrd was on the court and took pregame shoot around ahead of tonight's contest after tweaking his ankle during practice last week. He did not play against Occidental, watching from the bench while wearing a boot, but was out of the additional support later in the week.
Gonzaga torched Baylor to open the season 101-63 and has five players averaging in double figures. Senior Arkansas-transfer guard Khalif Battle leads the Zags, averaging 17.3 points while making 11-of-18 from 3-point land, which is currently tops in the WCC at 61.1%. Senior guard Ryan Nembhard is averaging 10.0 assists, also tops in the WCC, while forwards sophomore Braden Huff (16.0 points) and senior Graham Ike (11.7 points and 5.0 rebounds) are the starters in the post. Sophomore guard Dusty Stromer is Gonzaga's top scorer off the bench, averaging 9.3 points while shooting 56.3% from the field and 5-of-10 on 3's.
The Aztecs won last season up at McCarthy Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash. by an 84-74 final over the then-No. 13/16 Bulldogs, and hold a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series while picking up the lone win in San Diego 72-70 on Dec. 21, 2017. SDSU is 14-10 against ranked opponents under Dutcher, with a 6-0 mark at Viejas Arena. This is the highest ranked opponent to travel to The Mesa since SDSU face No. 2/3 Kansas on Dec. 22, 2015, with the Jayhawks picking up the 70-57 win.
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