Jan. 19, 2018
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card
NEWS AND NOTES Through games of Wednesday, Jan. 17
* The two programs that have claimed the most Mountain West men's basketball championships face each other in the only regular-season meeting between the programs when San Diego State (10 MW championships) travels to Albuquerque to face New Mexico (8). The Saturday game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network and can be heard on 101.5 KGB, XTRA 1360 and FOX Sports IE 1350 in Southern California, and on the iHeart Radio app.
* The Aztecs and Lobos have met twice in the regular season every year since the formation of the Mountain West, prior to the 1999-00 season.
* Saturday marks the 85th all-time meeting between the teams, with the Lobos owning a 46-38 series advantage. SDSU has won four of the last six encounters, although UNM swept the series last season (68-62 at SDSU and 64-59 at UNM).
* In Albuquerque, the Aztecs are 11-28 against the Lobos. San Diego State, however, has been the most successful visiting school in the nation at winning in the building of late. The Aztecs have defeated UNM at The Pit seven times since 2006 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016).
* Since Feb. 25, 2006, San Diego State has handed New Mexico seven of its 35 losses at The Pit. Since that date, SDSU is 7-5 in the venue, while the rest of the country is 28-155.
* For the second consecutive game, San Diego State led late but suffered a heartbreaking loss, this time to Fresno State, 77-73. For the first time this season, five Aztec players reached double figures, led by redshirt freshman forward Jalen McDaniels' fourth career double-double (14 points and career-high-tying 13 rebounds.).
* The loss marked the fourth time this season that the Aztecs have lost a game in which it had the lead within the final five minutes of the game and is 1-4 in games decided by four points or less.
* San Diego State is 9-1 this season when owning an advantage in field-goal percentage and 9-1 when attempting more free throws.
* The Aztecs rank 47th in field-goal percentage defense (40.6) and 45th nationally in points allowed per possession (.970). SDSU has held eight of its 17 opponents to 38.1 percent or less from the field.
* McDaniels is one of 22 freshmen nationally to average 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and shoot 50 percent or better from the field, and among those 22 players, he has the fewest turnovers per game (0.6). In his last 10 games, he is averaging 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds, and is 45-of-67 from the field (67.2 percent). In addition, his inaugural year productivity is reminiscent of legendary Aztec and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. See right box
* The Aztecs' freshman class of McDaniels, Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel has had a tremendous season and put together a string of impressive performances. For the season, the trio is averaging 22.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. In conference play, the classmates are averaging 26.0 points, 15.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. See right box
* Junior Devin Watson has seven consecutive double-digit scoring games (13.4) to his credit and is 12-25 from three-point range (48.0 percent) over his last six games. The guard has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of his last six contests (28-of-56, 50.0 percent) and has 22 assists in his last four games.
* Senior Malik Pope has scored eight or more points in nine consecutive games (14.3 ppg) and is 52-of-93 from the field (55.9 percent) from the floor during that span. He has 45 points in his last three games.
* True freshman Matt Mitchell has 10 double-digit scoring games this season and is coming off consecutive 13-point performances -- at Boise State (6-of-11 FGs) and Fresno State (5-of-9 FGs).
* Junior guard Jeremy Hemsley needs just 27 points to become the 32nd member of the SDSU 1,000-point club. Fighting a case of the flu, his scoring is down a bit the last three games; however, he still has six assists and just one turnover during that span.