Printer-friendly version
Source: goaztecs.com
Video courtesy goaztecs.com
February 10, 2024 (Reno) - After trailing for the majority of the game, No. 24-ranked San Diego State came back to take a late lead but ran out of steam in overtime, falling 70-66 at Nevada on Friday evening.
San Diego State (18-6, 7-4 Mountain West) was led by Jaedon LeDee, who scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Darrion Trammell totaled nine points for the Aztecs while Micah Parrish neared a double-double with nine points and ten rebounds. Parrish and Trammell also combined for eight of SDSU's ten assists.
For the Wolf Pack (19-5, 6-4), Kenan Blackshear scored 22 points including eight of the team's ten points in overtime. Jarod Lucas scored 15 and Nick Davidson tacked on 14.
Nevada led from the first possession of the game until there was 6:46 remaining in regulation, when SDSU evened the score at 46. The Aztecs claimed their first lead on a three-point play by Jay Pal with 3:47. The game remained close, with Nick Davidson making a layup with five seconds remaining to force overtime. San Diego State had a chance to win in regulation but Trammell was unable to get a shot off.
When asked about the final play of regulation, Aztec coach Brian Dutcher responded: "Obviously, Darrion made some stepbacks and some pull ups and that's what he tried to go to instead of pressing the issue to the rim where they might get a foul, so he's got to make them if he takes them. He's got to draw a foul or make a basket. That's basketball. You have to make important plays if you're going to win, and we didn't make enough of them."
In the overtime period, SDSU started out by scoring the first four points before the Wolf Pack responded with six unanswered to take a two point lead. San Diego State tied things up with a pair of free throws before Tre Coleman scored a go-ahead layup with 12 seconds remaining. Trammell missed a three at the end for SDSU before a Nevada rebound and pair of free throws ended the game.
In a very physical game, San Diego State finished with 27 fouls and Nevada had 25 while both team had a starter foul out (Lamont Butler, SDSU; K.J. Hymes, Nevada). A defensive battle, each team turned the ball over 16 times and struggled from deep, hitting just three 3-pointers each (all in the first half) despite the first three baskets of the game coming from beyond the arc.
"There were two good really good teams playing against each other and the difference between the first and the second game was almost identical," said Dutcher following the game. "Their ability to get second chance opportunities won them the game. We got initial stops, but they got offensive rebounds and chances to put back and we missed shots and did not get putbacks at the end."
As Dutcher alluded to, Nevada outscored SDSU 15-6 on second chance points. The Aztecs outshot the Wolf Pack from the bonus stripe (85.2%-46.2%) but Nevada was better from the field (46.2%-40.8%) and long range (23.1%-15.8%).
San Diego State returns home to Viejas Arena for a pair of big Mountain West matchups next week. SDSU hosts Colorado State at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday evening and No. 25-ranked New Mexico at 7 p.m. on Friday night. Tuesday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with a radio broadcast on San Diego Sports 760.
Recent comments