Aztecs Prepare for Showdown Against Lobos Amid Key Injuries

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The San Diego State Aztecs are set to host first-place New Mexico on Tuesday at 8 p.m. PST at Viejas Arena for a critical Mountain West matchup. The Aztecs, with an 18-7 record (11-5 in conference play), seek vengeance after a 62-48 loss to the Lobos earlier this season.

In their previous encounter, the Aztecs struggled offensively, with only two players reaching double figures in scoring: Miles Byrd with 14 points and Jared Coleman-Jones contributing 10. Despite a solid defensive effort against New Mexico, San Diego State was significantly outmatched on the boards, allowing the Lobos to secure 18 offensive rebounds compared to the Aztecs’ three.

The Aztecs come into this game on a high note, having played well despite last Saturday’s narrow 79-71 defeat at Utah State. SDSU managed to rally from a 14-point deficit and held a lead late in the game. BJ Davis‘s 14 points marked his highest scoring game in 12 outings, while Nick Boyd has emerged as a consistent scorer, averaging 18.8 points per game in his last four contests.

“We need to come out strong against New Mexico,” Boyd said. “This is a big opportunity for us to turn our season around.”

The Aztecs are currently projected to earn a No. 3, 4, or 5 seed in the upcoming Mountain West tournament, putting them in a good position to avoid the Wednesday play-in game. Their defense, allowing 63.1 points per game, will face a tough test against New Mexico’s high-octane offense, which averages 82.9 points.

On the other hand, New Mexico (22-5, 14-2 in conference) comes prepared after a bye week, with their last game being a close 86-78 loss at Boise State. A prominent concern for the Lobos is the health of senior forward Mustapha Amzil, who has missed two games due to a foot injury. His absence impacts an already shallow bench.

“We’ll see how practice goes leading up to the game,” said Lobos coach Richard Pitino regarding Amzil’s status. “We need him back if we want to keep our momentum.”

Donovan Dent, leading the conference in scoring with 19.6 points per game, remains a crucial asset for New Mexico, alongside Nigerian center Nelly Junior Joseph, who averages a double-double at 13.5 points and leads the conference with 10.5 rebounds. This matchup between conference rivals is critical for both teams as they aim for favorable seeding in the tournament.

Looking ahead, the Aztecs will face Wyoming on Saturday at 5 p.m. PST, following the game against New Mexico. Both teams know that winning out may be essential for their NCAA Tournament aspirations.