Dec. 7, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card
NEWS AND NOTES
* SDSU continues its three-game homestand when California visits for a Saturday afternoon contest at Viejas Arena. CBS Sports Network will have the game on television with Ted Leitner providing the details on radio (101.5 KGB, XTRA 1360, FOX Sports IE 1350).
* The Aztecs recently concluded a stretch where they played five games in 11 days vs. schools from five different conferences at three different venues, one of which was at home. SDSU escaped with a 4-1 record after dismissing previously 7-1 Bradley on Sunday afternoon, 75-52, at Viejas Arena.
* The win moved SDSU and head coach Brian Dutcher to 7-2 on the season, which matches the best nine-game start for a first-year Aztec coach in the 97-year history of the program. The legendary coaching duo of Don Delauer and Dick Mitchell led San Diego State to an identical 7-2 mark in their first season (1942-43) as co-head coaches.
* Redshirt freshman Jalen McDaniels recorded his first career double-double with game highs of 14 points (6-8 FG) and 12 rebounds vs. the Braves. The forward has two double-doubles in his first nine games of his career, which is the most by an Aztec freshman since Kawhi Leonard had three in his first nine outings during the 2009-10 campaign.
* In addition to McDaniels, Jeremy Hemsley and Malik Pope both reached double figures in scoring vs. Bradley. Hemsley, starting his second straight game due to Trey Kell's ankle injury suffered vs. Washington State (Nov. 26), scored a season-high 13 points to go with five rebounds and a game-high five assists. Pope, meanwhile, chipped in 13 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Eleven of Pope's points came in 13 second-half minutes.
* The game vs. Bradley marked the return of Max Montana. The junior forward played only four minutes in the first half, but his return was a welcomed sight after perhaps SDSU's top three-point shooter missed six consecutive games due to a hyperextended left knee suffered in the second half at Arizona State (second game of the season).
* SDSU, which is inching closer to having all of its players available with the return of Montana, has won two straight games and six of its last seven. This week, the Aztecs are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
* San Diego State will have its third chance this season at earning a win over a Pac-12 school. The Aztecs have so far come up empty after injuries played a role in both losses. At ASU, SDSU lost Montana with 9:02 left in the game after he made four first-half three-pointers and led by nine in the early moments of the second half. In the Wooden Legacy championship game vs. Washington State, which was the Aztecs' third in four games, San Diego State lost Pope in the first half (foot), but he ultimately returned and was credited with 14 first-half minutes. Pope did not return for the second half. Then with 6:38 left in the game and the Aztecs up by five, Kell went down with an ankle injury. When he returned with 3:58 to go, SDSU was down by one and never recovered.
* San Diego State will look to improve upon its four-game series winning streak vs. California. This is the third straight season in which the schools have played. The teams met last season on a neutral court at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento and the Aztecs emerged with the 77-65 victory.
* SDSU has won in four different cities during its four-game run vs. the Golden Bears. The Aztecs' streak began in Berkeley in 2010 (W, 77-57), and moved to Viejas Arena in 2011, when they defeated the No. 24/23 Bears, 64-63. Prior to the date in Sacramento, the schools convened in 2015 in Las Vegas, where SDSU upset No. 14/13 California, 72-58.