Men's Basketball

Aztecs Win at No. 13 Gonzaga by Double Digits

Stats (PDF) Opens in a new window Gameday Central Opens in a new window YouTube Opens in a new window
20231106_mbb_sdsu_v_fullerton_dtuskan_YCzJA20231106_mbb_sdsu_v_fullerton_dtuskan_YCzJA

SPOKANE, Wash. - Reese Waters scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half, Jaedon LeDee added 20 points, and San Diego State used a big second half to beat No. 13 Gonzaga 84-74 on Friday night.

The Aztecs (11-2) won their fourth straight and dominated big stretches late in the first half and early in the second half to take the non-conference matchup between two of the better programs on the West Coast.

San Diego State handed Gonzaga (9-4) its first non-conference loss on its home floor since falling to UCLA on Dec. 12, 2015. It was just the third home loss overall for the Zags since the start of the 2017 season and the first double-digit home loss for Gonzaga since 2012.

Off the bench, Darrion Trammell added a season-high 17 points, including 15 in the first half and kept the Aztecs hanging around through some early struggles. But it was the end of the first half and start of the second half where the Aztecs took control and built a big enough lead to withstand Gonzaga's late rally.

The Aztecs closed the first half on an 11-2 run to take a 38-37 lead at the break, then used an 18-3 run early in the second half to take a 62-47 lead with 13:25 left after Miles Byrd's fastbreak layup.

Graham Ike led Gonzaga with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Anton Watson added 16 points and Ryan Nembhard scored 15 points. The Bulldogs trimmed the 15-point deficit to 71-67 after Nembhard's baseline jumper with 5:43 left.

Byrd answered with a 3-pointer from the corner and LeDee scored on the fastbreak to quickly push the Aztecs advantage back to nine.

The Aztecs open Mountain West play by hosting Fresno State next Wednesday.