San Diego State Faces Must-Win Showdown Against San Jose State

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Diego State University’s basketball team will play a critical game against San Jose State on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Provident Credit Union Event Center. With a season record of 15-6, including an 8-4 mark in the Mountain West Conference, the Aztecs are fighting for their NCAA Tournament hopes as they try to rebound from a recent loss.

In their last matchup two weeks ago, the Aztecs narrowly defeated San Jose State 71-68 at Viejas Arena, overcoming a 21-point deficit. SDSU has dominated the series, winning 14 consecutive games against the Spartans and leading the overall series 50-35. San Jose State’s last victory over SDSU came in 2017.

The Aztecs are looking to avoid a second straight loss after falling to Colorado State 68-63 on Saturday. In that game, SDSU held a 50-47 lead with 14 minutes remaining but managed only one basket during a critical stretch, finishing with 11 of 21 from the free-throw line, a disturbing trend that Coach Brian Dutcher will seek to rectify.

“We must improve our free-throw shooting,” said Dutcher. “Games are often decided at the foul line, and taming that area of our game is essential if we want to climb back up the standings.”

Despite setbacks, freshman Magoon Gwath has emerged as a key player for SDSU. He recorded a double-double against Colorado State with 15 points and 10 rebounds, marking his fourth consecutive game averaging impressive stats, including 17 points and 10.3 rebounds over that span. Additionally, he broke the freshman school record for blocked shots, surpassing Sylar Spencer’s mark.

The Aztecs, currently ranked 49th in the Kenpom metrics, face a Spartan team that has struggled recently, dropping their last game against Boise State 79-52. They are 12-13 overall and 5-8 in conference play, but managed to win five of their last eight games after a rough start.

San Jose State boasts the conference’s highest three-point accuracy at 37.8 percent, averaging 8.9 makes per game. This was evident in their recent match against SDSU, where they sunk 15 three-pointers. Latrell Davis and Josh Uduje provide scoring threats, already having combined for 60 points in a single game this month.

“We’re determined to build on our recent performances,” Davis stated. “We know SDSU well, and we’re ready to compete at a higher level,” he added.

Ultimately, both teams are aware that the outcome of this game could have significant implications for their aspirations of postseason play. The Aztecs will need a strong performance to maintain their at-large bid status as the regular season winds down.

The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and 760-AM, providing fans with access to this crucial matchup.