SAN DIEGO – Coming off a dominating two-game sweep of Air Force last week, the San Diego State men's basketball team returns to action on Thursday night against the Wyoming Cowboys.
SCENE SETTER
Following consecutive victories by 30+ points for the first time since November of 2017 and the first time in conference play in the 100-year history of the program, San Diego State returns home for a two-game series against Wyoming.
The Aztecs will play host to the Cowboys on Thursday at 2 p.m. PT and Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.
San Diego State concluded its longest road streak (four consecutive road games) in nearly 18 years with a sweep of the Air Force Academy, winning, 98-61, on Thursday and, 91-59, on Sunday.
It marked the fifth time in 30 years that the Aztecs have scored at least 90 points in consecutive games. The teams 189 combined points in those two games are the fourth highest in that time frame. (also 207 points on Feb. 23, 1991 (at Wyoming) & Feb. 27 (vs. USIU); 191 points on Dec. 14, 1996 (vs. LMU) & Dec. 20 (vs. Vanguard); and 189 points on Dec. 12, 2018 (vs. CSU Dominguez Hills) & Dec. 22 (vs. BYU).
San Diego State and Wyoming are meeting for the 86th time in school history, with the Aztecs owning a 44-41 edge. San Diego State has won the last four games played between the teams (the Cowboys last win in the series came on Dec. 27, 2017 in Laramie, Wyo.), and the Aztecs have won seven of the last eight encounters.
In San Diego, the Aztecs enjoy a 28-11 series advantage at home, including 15-5 at Viejas Arena. San Diego State has won its last 12 home games against Wyoming, dating back to a, 66-65, loss on Jan. 3, 2007. During the 12-game home win streak, SDSU's average margin of victory is 20.8 points. In those 12 games, SDSU has a 460-325 advantage on the glass (+135; +11.3 rpg margin).
On Sunday, San Diego State shot 51.7 percent from the field and used a 42-18 advantage on the glass to rout Air Force, 91-59. The victory gave the Aztecs a two-game sweep of the Falcons during which they outscored the Academy, 189-120 (+69).
Senior guard Jordan Schakel connected on 6-of-13 three-point field goal attempts and scored a game-high 24 points in the Sunday win over Air Force. It marked the 15th consecutive game in which he has made a three (every game this season) and the 29th career game in which he has made at least three treys (SDSU is 26-3 in those games). Schakel is averaging 13.8 points and leads the Mountain West Conference in both three-point field goal per game (2.87) and three-point field goal percentage (42.6).
Senior guard Terrell Gomez scored 15 points on the strength of 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc and added a season-high six assists (no turnovers) in Sunday's win over the Academy. He now has 88 career double-digit scoring games and ranks among the NCAA Division I active leaders in scoring with 1,763 points (11th), three-point field goals with 325 (2nd), three-point field goal percentage at 42.5 percent (first among players with 280 makes) and free throw percentage at 89.3 percent (2nd).
Just 10 days after suffering a hyperextended right knee, senior forward Matt Mitchell returned to action on a minutes restriction and produced 10 points, a team-high seven rebounds and three assists in only 13:35 of action. Mitchell, who played in 111 consecutive games prior to the injury, has scored in double figures in all 13 of his games this season. He needs just nine rebounds and one assist to become just the third player in SDSU history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals joining Winston Shepard and Trey Kell. Mitchell leads the team in scoring (14.9), is second in rebounding (5.1) and third in assists (2.0).
Junior guard Adam Seiko had a remarkable two games against Air Force. In his last two games, he has 23 points (highest two-game total of his 76-game career), seven assists, no turnovers and four rebounds. He has connected on 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from three-point range in his last two contests.
The Aztecs metrics continue their upward trend following the two dominating victories. San Diego State ranks in the metrics after Monday's games: 21st in RPI, 22nd in Sagarin Ratings, 22nd in BPI, 33rd in Kenpom, 34th in the NET and 54th in Strength of Record.
San Diego State ranks among the national leaders in several categories including: 11th in scoring defense (60.6), 21st in Kenpom adjusted defensive efficiency (91.6), 29th in three-point field goal percentage (38.5), 37th three-point field goals per game (9.3), 38th in turnover margin (+3.3), 40th in scoring margin (+11.8), 52nd in steals per game (8.1), 56th in turnovers forced (15.87) and 67th in field goal percentage defense (40.6).
San Diego State student-athletes lead the Mountain West Conference in the following categories Trey Pulliam assist-to-turnover ratio (2.47), Jordan Schakel three-point field goal percentage (42.6) and three-point field goals per game (2.87) and Matt Mitchell free throws made per game (5.3).