SAN DIEGO - Senior forward Jaedon LeDee matched his career-high with 27 points to lead the San Diego State Aztecs in an 88-76 win over Long Beach State on Tuesday evening at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
LeDee also contributed 11 rebounds and three steals for the Aztecs who improve to 2-1 on the year. Reese Waters scored 15 points for the third time in as many games while shooting 5-of-10, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Lamont Butler had 14 points and shot 5-for-10 (2-of- 6 from 3-point range) and 2-of 3-from the free throw line. Micah Parrish added 13 points also on 5-of-10 from the floor and Elijah Saunders set a career-best with 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. Each of the aforementioned five players started the game and the contest marked the first time all five SDSU starters reached double digits in the scoring column since Feb. 16, 2020, when the Aztecs won 72-55 at Boise State.
SDSU won its 36th straight game against a current Big West school. In addition, SDSU defeated Long Beach State for the 16th time in the last 17 meeting between these programs, regardless of location, and for the eighth straight time.
San Diego State got the first bucket of the contest, a LeDee layup just 16 second in, and never trailed in the game for the second time in three games this season. SDSU used a 10-0 run over 2:08 of the first half to turn a 15-12 lead into a 25-12 advantage with 10:36 to play before intermission and took a 47-39 lead into the break.
The Beach (1-2) which were led in scoring by Marcus Tsohonis, who finished with 17 points, cut the lead to three twice early in the second half. But the Aztecs put together a 12-2 run midway through the half to go up 78-63 and never looked back in the 12 point victory.
San Diego State returns to action on Friday, when it plays Saint Mary's College in it's opening game at the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas.