Two minutes into the game Saturday and the Aztecs knew they were in trouble – and not just for the night, but maybe the season.
San Diego State fell to Utah State 79-71 after playing most of the game without forward Magoon Gwath, who fell hard following a block and had to be aided off the court.
The three-time Mountain West Freshman of the Week would not return – he later sat on the bench, with his right knee wrapped and protected by a brace.
Broadcasters reported that he suffered a hyper-extended knee while head coach Brian Dutcher told San Diego Sports 760 it was a sprain and said Gwath would need to undergo an MRI for a firm diagnosis.
Nonetheless, Dutcher said, “I think he’ll be out for a little bit with that injury.”
SDSU (18-7, 11-5 MW) initially struggled without Gwath, though slow starts are the norm for the Aztecs.
The Aggies (24-4, 14-3) rained down three-pointers, taking a 33-26 lead into the break, thanks mostly to Dexter Akanno, who scored 12 in the half on 4-of-5 shooting from long distance.
Utah State, however, led by as many as 14, and after San Diego State collected itself following Gwath’s loss, had whittled the advantage down to as low as six.
Yet just as fans have come to expect their slow starts, they also may depend on SDSU’s second-half surges. “They made their run, we knew that we could make ours,” Davis told San Diego Sports.
Jared Coleman-Jones started it, with a layup after a steal by BJ Davis, who then hit two straight threes to give the Aztecs their first lead of the night, 34-33.
It didn’t last. Utah State had an answer every time – namely, Akanno.
After a foul by Davis, his third, and two free throws by Deyton Albury, the guard, on his way to a career night, hit another three. Akanno finished the game with 26 points and seven three-pointers.
Utah State built up an eight-point lead, but Akanno headed to the bench after his fourth foul, opening the door for SDSU. Kimo Ferrari landed a three, Nick Boyd made two free throws and then a three of his own to tie it up at 65.
Pharaoh Compton had a layup to put the Aztecs up by two and Boyd followed with a second-chance layup for a four-point lead, 69-65 with 3:42 to play.
But when down, as they did all game, Utah State turned to a three, this time from Ian Martinez. With SDSU up by one, Davis, with four fouls, missed a shot, then headed back up court to defend Martinez, who appeared to travel before he attempted another three, over Davis’ outstretched arm.
The call did not go the Aztecs’ way. There was no whistle for the travel, but for Davis, now lost to SDSU with his fifth foul. Martinez hit all three free throws for a 71-69 Utah State lead.
Dutcher, asked about the non-call, didn’t belabor the point, saying simply, “You need a call or two down the stretch.”
The Aggies finished up going 11-for-11 from the line, including two shots by Albury following a foul by Taj Degourville with one second on the shot clock and two more after a technical was called on the Aztec bench with two seconds left in the game.
Boyd led San Diego State with 15 points and six assists, and Davis added 14 points as the Aztecs went 0-2 on the season against Utah State.
“We played gutty (and) we played tough,” Dutcher said. “But there’s no consolation. You have to win the game.”
SDSU has their second big game in a row Tuesday when they welcome the conference leaders, New Mexico (22-5, 14-2 MW) to Viejas Arena. The Lobos are coming off a loss to Boise State.
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