SAN DIEGO – Adam Seiko drained seven three pointers, including six in the first half, and the Aztecs beat Utah State on Wednesday night, 85-75. Seiko finished seven of nine from bonus distance and totaling a career-high 25 points.
Seiko's seven 3-pointers tie David Abramowitz (Feb. 10, 2000 vs. Utah) for the most in a game by an Aztec coming off the bench since at least the 1996-97 season.
In addition to Seiko, it was the Keshad Johnson show early in the game. The junior forward set the tone with a monster block in the opening minute, had five points and three rebounds in the first four minutes, helping the Aztecs (16-4, 7-1 MW) to an early 7-3 lead. He would finish with his second double double in as many games, (11 points & 10 rebounds) and cracked double figure scoring for the fourth time in the last five games.
Up next it was Seiko who took over for the Aztecs. The senior made three straight from bonus distance to give the Aztecs an 18-11 lead with 11:40 remaining in the first half. He then hit his next two to give him five made threes over seven minutes played as the Aztecs lead ballooned to 17, 28-11 with 7:30 left in the opening stanza.
Utah State (16-5, 5-3 MW) would go on a run of their own to close the gap to 12, 39-27 with 1:30 left in the half, before Seiko hit his sixth triple in the first 20 minutes, tying his career-high. He finished the half a perfect 6-6 from deep and the Aztecs took a 42-27 lead into the break.
The Aggies would begin a comeback in the second half, and cut the Aztecs advantage to nine, 64-55 with just under 10 minutes left in the game. Micah Parrish then hit a deep three to give San Diego State a double-digit advantage again, this time 69-55 with 7:28 left in the game.
Utah State would make another run to cut it to six, 72-66, but Darrion Trammell made a basket to put the SDSU back up eight with 3:20 left. A few possessions later, Lamont Butler drilled another three, San Diego State's 12th of the night, putting SDSU up by double digits again, 79-68 with 2:05 remaining.
Down eight with 1:05 left, the Aggies were forced to foul, but the Aztecs knocked down their last six free throw attempts and emerged 85-75 winners.
The victory is the 16th for San Diego State in the last 22 games against the Aggies and in Viejas Arena, SDSU has defeated Utah State in each of its last nine meetings.
Up Next: The Aztecs play San Jose State on Saturday evening at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena. Tip is set for 6 p.m. PT.
Seiko's Career Night Lifts Aztecs Past USU, 85-75
