Nov. 2, 2017
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SAN DIEGO -
UC San Diego-San Diego State Final Box 
San Diego State made its 2017-18 debut on Thursday vs. UC San Diego and defeated the Tritons, 98-79, in exhibition action. Six Aztecs reached double figures in scoring in a game that took place on Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
SDSU, under the direction of first-year head coach Brian Dutcher, took the floor with a starting five of returning seniors Trey Kell and Malik Pope, graduate transfer Kameron Rooks, junior Max Montana and junior newcomer Devin Watson.
The score was tied at 29 with 7:21 left in the first half when the Aztecs went on a 7-0 run that covered nearly two minutes to move ahead, 36-29. In the final two minutes, SDSU padded its lead with a pair of three-pointers from the freshman duo of Jordan Schakel and Matt Mitchell to take a 49-38 cushion into halftime.
The Tritons, who were 27-6 and advanced to the NCAA Division II West Regional championship a year ago, cut the Aztecs' lead to eight points with 18:20 left in the second half. SDSU, however, responded by outscoring the visitors, 19-7, over nearly six minutes to lead, 70-50, with 12:47 to go.
UCSD's Brett Oosdyke hit consecutive three-pointers to get the Tritons to within nine points at 75-66 with just under eight minutes left on the clock. The nine-point deficit would be the closest UC San Diego would get as Pope made a free throw to push San Diego State's lead to double digits, an advantage it would keep the rest of the way.
Kell led the Aztecs with 14 points and seven assists to go with seven rebounds. Watson and Mitchell each scored 13 points with Pope and Jeremy Hemsley adding 11 of their own. Jalen McDaniels chipped in with 10 points and a game-high-tying eight rebounds.
As a team, the Aztecs shot 60.7 percent from the floor, including a blistering 65.5 percent in the second half. They also went 23-for-30 from the free-throw line and limited the Tritons to nine free-throw attempts (6-9). SDSU committed just six turnovers and had 16 assists. On the flip side, the Aztecs forced 12 turnovers, which led to 19 points.
UCSD, meanwhile, had four players in double figures, led by Christian Oshita's 16 points, and Scott Everman and Eric Patton's 14. Oosdyke recorded 10 points in eight minutes off the bench.
San Diego State will continue its preparation in anticipation for its season-opening game vs. San Diego Christian on Friday, Nov. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT inside Viejas Arena.