Men's Basketball

Aztecs host Bulldogs for Senior Night

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Aztecs host Bulldogs for Senior NightAztecs host Bulldogs for Senior Night

NEED TO KNOW

  • Winners of nine of its last 11 games, San Diego State honors three seniors - Jeremy Hemsley, Devin Watson and Michael Sohikish - prior to its final home game of the season against Fresno State on Wednesday night (more information on the seniors can be found on page 4).
  • The game features two teams that are tied for third place currently in the Mountain West standings. The winner of this game will be guaranteed a top three seed at the conference tournament next week in Las Vegas.
  • San Diego State ends the regular-season campaign with games against Fresno State (20-8) and at No. 17 Nevada (26-3). The combined winning percentage of the Aztecs' opponents in the final two regular-season games (.807, 46-11) is the sixth highest among the 351 Division I teams.
  • This is the 20th season of the Mountain West and only once have the Aztecs gone through league play with a perfect home record (2014). SDSU has an opportunity to do that for a second time if it defeats Fresno State on Wednesday.
  • San Diego State has won nine consecutive home games (T-16th longest active streak nationally) and 14 straight conference home games (7th longest active streak nationally).
  • Since Jan. 26, 2019, San Diego State's 9-2 record is tied for the 27th highest winning percentage nationally. That percentage is second in the Mountain West, trailing Utah State (10-1) and ahead of Nevada (7-2). Utah State's lone loss during the streak is to SDSU.
  • San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher (was on Fisher's staff for every victory as a head coach at both Michigan and San Diego State) in his second season as head coach will face long-time SDSU assistant Justin Hutson in his first season with the Bulldogs. Hutson served as an assistant on The Mesa for 10 seasons, from the 2006-07 season to 2010-11 and from 2013-14 through 2017-18.
  • In its last 59 home conference games (since Jan. 26, 2013), San Diego State is 53-6.
  • During the current 14-game home conference win streak, the Aztecs have outscored their opponents by 240 points (17.2 points per game) (key stats in box below).
  • SDSU's defense continues to improve at a dramatic rate. The Aztecs, who earlier this season allowed four opponents in a six-game stretch to shoot above 50 percent, rank among the top of the conference in several defensive categories. In Mountain West games only, SDSU ranks 1st in scoring defense (65.2) and field goal percentage defense (.406) and second in KenPom defensive efficiency (96.1).
  • San Diego State continues its strong play on Saturday with an 84-56 victory over San José State. Five Aztec players reached double figures and SDSU held the Spartans to 32.2 percent field goal shooting and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
  • Hemsley had 15 points and six assists to lead the Aztecs in both categories. It marked the second time in his career (and first time since Nov. 23, 2015) that he posted a game with at least 15 points and six assists.
  • Freshman forward Nathan Mensah recorded his second double-double with 13 points and a career-high tying 11 rebounds and the Aztecs improved to 5-0 when he scores at least 10 points. He became the second player in the nation this season with at least 13 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, 4 assists and one steal while shooting at least 85 percent from the field.
  • Sophomore guard Jordan Schakel scored 12 points and has reached double figures in consecutive games for the first time in his career. Since returning from his ankle and Achilles injuries (last four games), he has 42 points (10.5 ppg), 18 rebounds (4.5 rpg), while shooting 12-for-20 (60.0 percent) from three-point range.
  • Since Dec. 29, 2018 (which includes 18 games), Jalen McDaniels is averaging 17.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field. He is the one of only 10 players in the nation that is averaging those numbers during that time frame.
  • Sophomore forward Matt Mitchell has scored eight or more points in five consecutive games (his longest stretch since an eight-game streak to open the season). This season, SDSU is 13-4 when he scores 9+ points and 6-0 when he scores 15 or more points (11-1 in his career).
  • Head coach Brian Dutcher has a career record of 14-2 in games played after Feb. 12.
  • San Diego State student-athletes have claimed three of the last six Mountain West Player of the Week honors.
  • In Mountain West play, the Aztecs rank 1st in points allowed (65.2), field goal percentage defense (.406) and 2nd in rebound margin (+2.6), blocked shots (3.8) and 3rd in scoring margin (+5.1), free throw percentage (72.2) and offensive rebound percentage (29.8).