SAN DIEGO - Having its two-game Mountain West series vs. New Mexico canceled last week, the San Diego State men's basketball team is set to host the San Jose State Spartans on Monday night at Viejas Arena in the first of two games against the league foe.
SCENE SETTER
Having won four consecutive games by a combined 126 points, San Diego State returns to action to face San Jose State in a two-game series beginning Monday at Viejas Arena.
San Diego State is just the third team nationally in the last 25 seasons to win four consecutive conference games by at least 25 points and scored 85 or more points in each of those games. Below is a look at those teams and how they ended the season.
| Team | Season | Final Record | Postseason |
| Kansas | 2001-02 | 33-4 | NCAA Final Four |
| Duke | 1998-99 | 37-2 | NCAA Runner Up |
| San Diego State | 2020-21 |
This marks the 77th all-time meeting between the Aztecs and Spartans with San Diego State owning a 41-35 advantage.
San Diego State has won five encounters between the teams and 12 of the last 13 games in the series, including a 59-57 decision in the only meeting last season on Dec. 8, 2019 at Viejas Arena. Malachi Flynn made a three-point basket on the left wing with :00.9 remaining to lift the Aztecs to the victory.
In San Diego State's school record 26-0 start last season, that contest against San Jose State was the only game decided by fewer than four points.
In San Diego, the Aztecs own a 28-8 series advantage, with victories in all eight games played in Viejas Arena. San Jose's last win in San Diego over the Aztecs came on Feb. 27, 1997, 65-63, at the Sports Arena.
The Aztecs metrics continue their upward trend following the four dominating victories. San Diego State rankings in the metrics after Thursday's games: 11th in the RPI, 17th in Sagarin Ratings, 19th in BPI, 23rd in the NET and 24th in KenPom. The NET ranking of No. 23 represents San Diego State's highest ranking this season (also ranked No. 23 on Feb. 4).
Since Jan. 22, San Diego State national rankings include 1st in scoring margin (+31.5, Gonzaga is second, 28.5), 1st in points per game (93.5), 4th in field goal percentage (55.5), 5th in three-point field goal percentage (49.5) and 2nd in rebound margin (+18.0).
San Diego State has shot 50 percent or better from the field in four straight games for the first time since December 6-22, 2012.
The Aztecs have scored at least 87 points in four straight games, which is SDSU's second-longest streak in its Division I era (1970-71) and longest since a seven-game stretch from Jan. 16-Feb. 4, 1971.
According to Kenpom, San Diego State's highest offensive efficiency rating against a Division I opponent in the 20 year history of the public ratings came last Saturday in the victory against Colorado State. The Aztecs posted a 149.4 figure against the Rams. San Diego State's three highest offensive efficiency games this season have come in its last four outings.
San Diego State ran its win streak to four games with another dominating performance, defeating Wyoming, 98-71, at Viejas Arena on Jan. 30. The Aztecs shot 69.7 percent from the field, made 11-of-23 three-point field goals, and used a 35-20 edge on the glass to complete the two-game sweep of the Cowboys and defeat Wyoming for the 14th straight time at Viejas.
Senior forward Matt Mitchell scored a game high 26 points in the victory on the strength of 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc and added five rebounds four assists and two steals. In the win , Mitchell moved pass Billy White and Steve Copp and into 10th place on the school all-time scoring list (1,318 points). He also became just the third player in school history to accumulate 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
Senior guard Jordan Schakel reached double figures for a career-long tying fifth consecutive game with 10 points on Saturday. In his last four games, Schakel has connected on 14 of his 27 from three-point range (51.9 percent).
Sophomore forward Keshad Johnson is coming off a career-high 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Since suffering a shoulder injury last month, Johnson has played in six consecutive games and has 21 points in his last two games (10.5 ppg) on 8-of-11 field goals, 27 rebounds in his last five games (5.4 rpg)nine assists in his last four games (2.3 apg).
Freshman guard Lamont Butler is playing the best basketball of his career. He has played 19 or more minutes in five consecutive games and after scoring no more than six points in the first 12 games of his career, he has scored 11 or more points in three of his last five games, including 11 points and four assists in the Saturday win over the Cowboys. In his last five games, he is averaging 9.2 points, 3.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He has made 17-of-30 attempts from the floor (56.7 percent) during this stretch.
Junior guard Adam Seiko, who scored eight or more points eight time in his first 74 career games, has now scored eight plus points in four straight games (10.0 ppg). During that stretch he is 10-for-17 from three-point range (58.8 percent). In addition he has nine rebounds in his last three games (3.0 rpg) and has nine assists and two turnovers in his last four contest.
-SDSU-