Men's Hoops hosts Lobos Tuesday

SCENE SETTER
* San Diego State and New Mexico meet for the first time this season at Viejas on Tuesday evening in a rematch of the 2019 Mountain West tournament championship game (won by the Aztecs, 82-75).

* The Aztecs and Lobos, both charter members of the Mountain West, rank first and second in men's basketball titles. San Diego State owns a conference record 11-league crowns, while New Mexico has claimed eight championships. No other current league member has more than three.

* New Mexico leads the all-time series, 47-39, but the Aztecs have won five of the last eight encounters.

* This marks New Mexico's first appearance in Viejas Arena since Jan. 1, 2017. The teams split two meetings last season, with UNM winning, 79-75, in Albuquerque and SDSU posting an 82-75 win in Las Vegas (MW title game).

* New Mexico won on its most recent visit to Viejas (68-62 on Jan. 1, 2017), but SDSU is 4-1 in the last five home games against the Lobos and 7-2 in the last nine visits by UNM.

* Brian Dutcher will be on the SDSU sideline for the 44th time in games played between the teams (41 times as part of Steve Fisher's staff and third time as head coach). The Aztecs are 22-21 in those contests.

* In the last two games, SDSU has started one senior, three sophomores and one true freshman. This marks the first time the Aztecs have started four underclassmen since February 12, 2005 vs. UNLV. Against the Runnin' Rebels that day, SDSU started two freshmen (Tyler Smith and Matt Thomas), two sophomores (Brandon Heath and Marcus Slaughter) and a junior college transfer (Mohamed Camara). That team finished 11-18 and marks the last time the Aztecs finished a campaign below .500. SDSU would make the postseason each of the next 11 seasons.

* A fairly significant streak were broken in Saturday's loss at Air Force. The Aztecs were 23-0 in the Brian Dutcher era when holding the opposition to 45 percent or less from the field (Air Force shot 39.0 pct.) and 35 percent or less from three-point range (the Falcons shot 32.1 pct.).

* San Diego State has won seven straight home games against Mountain West competition and is 10-1 in its last 11 and is 46-6 in such games since Jan. 26, 2013. During the seven-game win streak, SDSU has outscored their opponents by 141 points (+20.2 scoring margin).

* The Aztecs are 7-2 in home games this season with a +162-point scoring margin in the nine contests at Viejas Arena.