San Diego State Faces Troy Trojans in Anticipated Nike N7 Game

San Diego, CA — San Diego State University (SDSU) is set to host the Troy Trojans on Tuesday at Viejas Arena at 7 p.m. PST. This matchup comes as both teams enter with contrasting season records. SDSU stands at 2-0 while Troy has a record of 3-2.

The Aztecs will be wearing their turquoise uniforms in recognition of the annual Nike N7 game, which supports Native American communities. This game also marks the anticipated return of star player Magoon Gwath, who has been out for nearly seven months following knee surgery.

Troy’s recent performance has seen them struggle, having lost their last two games against Loyola Marymount and CSUN after starting the season with three consecutive wins. The Trojans average 87.2 points per game, but they are currently underdogs by 17 points according to Kenpom metrics.

Troy, known as Troy State until 2005, finished 23-11 last season and made their second NCAA tournament appearance in 22 years. Coach Scott Cross emphasizes a tight rotation, frequently playing his starters over 30 minutes per game. Cooper Campbell leads the Trojans with an average of 15.8 points per game.

The Aztecs are known for their defensive prowess, ranking ninth in the nation for turnovers forced with 20 per game. Head coach Brian Dutcher stated, “Anytime you play a team that’s capable of making 3s, you hope you don’t run into a night where they make 15.”

SDSU has been able to utilize their time between games to refine both offensive and defensive strategies. The team, which is ranked 26th overall in the Associated Press poll, is set to face No. 7 Michigan in Las Vegas following the match against Troy.

Assistant coach Ryan Badrtalei remarked on the team’s progress: “We were fortunate enough to play those two exhibition games because it gave us a feel for what our team will look like in front of fans.” The energy at Viejas Arena is expected to be electric, especially with Gwath potentially taking the court after a long recovery.

As the game approaches, fans are eager to see how the Aztecs will perform against a high-scoring Troy team. This matchup between offense and defense will be crucial as both teams look to establish momentum early in the season.