SAN DIEGO - In a showdown for first place in the Mountain West standings, the San Diego State men's basketball team travels to Logan, Utah to face Utah State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT. The game, at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
OFF THE BOUNCE
The Aztecs and Aggies are meeting for the 28th time, with SDSU boasting a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series. In the Mountain West era, SDSU has a 19-6 lead in the series, and in Logan, Utah, is 5-5 against Utah State.
In averaging 25.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.0 assists and 0.5 blocks in two wins last week, Jaedon LeDee was named the Mountain West Player of the Week. He shot 70.8 percent from the field (17-of-24), 50.0 percent from beyond the arc (1-of-2) and 68.2 percent from the line (15-of-22) in an average of 30.5 minutes per game.
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, when the current slate of MW members was finalized, SDSU has an 58-35 (.624) record in Mountain West ROAD games, the best mark in the conference. Boise State has the second-best record 48-47 (.505).
The Aztecs are among the elite programs in the country and that includes winning on their opponent's floor. Since the beginning of the 2009-10 campaign, SDSU has the seventh best road record in the nation, 105-65 (61.8 percent). Since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, SDSU has lost just 15 times in 49 road games (34-15, 69.4 percent), which are the FOURTH fewest road losses in the nation trailing only Gonzaga (6 losses), Saint Mary's (12 losses) and Baylor (14 losses) and its 69.4 winning percentage in road games in that time frame is the FOURTH best in the nation trailing only Gonzaga (34-6, 85.0 percent) with one of the Zags' six losses coming at the hands of the Aztecs, 84-74 on Dec. 29, 2023, Saint Mary's (28-12, 70.0 percent), and Baylor (32-14, 69.6 percent).
Against New Mexico, the Aztecs won their 19th straight home game, the third-longest streak in program history. The 19-game home win streak is tied with three other schools for the longest active streak in the country through the games of Feb. 18 (also: Houston and Drake).
With its 81-70 win over New Mexico, Brian Dutcher now has at least 20 victories in all seven seasons as head coach. Dutcher extended his school record for most consecutive 20-win seasons to start his coaching career.
In its last 30 games immediately following a loss, the Aztecs are 27-3. In situations where a loss is followed immediately by a home contest, San Diego State has won 34 consecutive games, most recently its 71-55 win over Colorado State on Jan. 13.
San Diego State owns a 128-29 record (81.5 percent) since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. That is the third best record in the nation trailing only Gonzaga (141-19, 88.1 percent) and Houston (138-25, 84.7 percent).
Once again San Diego State is one of the elite teams when it comes to challenging itself. According to Kenpom, through the games of Feb. 18, the Aztecs have the No. 12 strength of schedule rating, including the No. 10 rated non-conference schedule. SDSU has faced the No. 9 rated schedule in opponents adjusted offensive efficiency and the No. 27 rated schedule in opponents adjusted defensive efficiency.
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, when the current slate of MW members was finalized, SDSU has an 87-11 (.888) record in Mountain West HOME games, the best mark in the conference. Utah State has the fourth best home record in that time frame 69-27 (.719).
The Aztecs metrics rank among the best in the nation. Through the games of February 17, the Aztecs were ranked No. 18 in the NET, No. 18 in Kenpom, No. 23 in T-Rank, No. 13 in KPI and No. 33 in BPI. San Diego State's NET strength of record is No. 12.
San Diego State enters the Utah State game with an 8-6 record in Quad 1 & 2 games this season, including a 5-6 record in Quad 1 games. Its six losses have been on the road at some of the toughest venues to play in for an opposing team. The Aztecs lost at Brigham Young (65-74) in front of its second largest crowd of the season, at Grand Canyon (73-79) in front of its largest crowd, at New Mexico (70-88) in front of the largest crowd it has had since the 2009 season, at Boise State (66-67) in front to its second biggest home crowd this year, at Colorado State (71-79) in front of its largest home crowd of the year and at Nevada (66-70 in overtime) in front of its largest home crowd of the season.
San Diego State, which won both the 2022-23 Mountain West regular season and tournament titles and reached the league tournament championship game for the sixth time in head coach Brian Dutcher's six seasons, looks for its unprecedented 17th Mountain West men's basketball title. Entering the 2023-24 season, San Diego State has won nine regular season and seven Mountain West tournament titles.
Senior forward Jaedon LeDee recorded his 14th 20-point game of the season (SDSU is 11-3), totaling a game-high 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 1-2 from long distance, and 8-of-11 from the line in the team's 81-70 victory over New Mexico. Including his steals, assists and offensive rebounds, he contributed to 37 of the team's 81 points in the win. LeDee became just the third player under Brian Dutcher to record at least 20 points and 4 steals in a game, joining Jalen McDaniels (Jan. 26, 2019 vs. UNLV) and Devin Watson (Nov. 30, 2017 at San Diego).
With 13 points against New Mexico, senior guard Lamont Butler recorded his 12th double digit scoring game of the season (SDSU is 11-1). In addition, he had multiple steals (3) for the eighth time this season (SDSU is 7-1) and 43rd time of his career (38-5).
Sophomore forward Elijah Saunders, against New Mexico, Scored in double figures for the fourth time this year (and career). It was his most points since scoring 13 at UC San Diego on Dec. 1, 2023, and he had multiple three-pointers for the fifth time this season (SDSU is 5-0) and sixth time of his career (6-0).
Brian Dutcher is in his seventh season as San Diego State's head coach and his 25th season on the Aztec sidelines. In his six-plus seasons as head coach, he has led the Aztecs to five conference titles, six Mountain West championship game appearances, a 171-53 (.763) overall record, the 2023 NCAA national championship game, has been named the national coach of the year, and twice the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.