LARAMIE, Wyo. – San Diego State went on 8-0 scoring runs in both halves as it picked up a 74-57 win at Wyoming on Wednesday night in the Aztecs’ final trip to Laramie as part of the Mountain West.
San Diego State (12-4, 6-0 Mountain West) stays atop the conference standings ahead of Saturday’s matchup against New Mexico.
Wyoming (11-5, 2-3 MW) will try to bounce back at Fresno State on Saturday night.
With the Cowboys leading 13-9 with 10:15 remaining in the first half, Reese Dixon-Waters made a three-pointer. Miles Byrd hit a pair of free throws to pull the Aztecs ahead before another basket from Dixon-Waters made it 16-13. Following a Wyoming free throw, freshmen Tae Simmons and Elzie Harrington extended the SDSU lead with a dunk and two free throws, respectively. Wyoming pulled within a possession on a three of its own before the Aztecs responded with three-pointers from Byrd and Gwath and Simmons drained a pair of free throws to make it a double-digit lead. SDSU went into the locker room leading 38-25 after BJ Davis went the length of the court for a layup at the buzzer, aided by a Pharaoh Compton screen.
The Aztecs never let the Cowboys get within single digits in the second half. Wyoming got as close as ten points three and a half minutes into the half before a pair of Byrd free throws and two straight buckets from Compton pushed the lead to 16. Magoon Gwath responded to a three-pointer with one of his own before scoring in the paint the next time down the floor ahead of a Taj DeGourville three that made it 59-38 Aztecs at the 12:47 mark.
SDSU extended its lead as far out as 24 points thanks to layups by Dixon-Waters, former Wyoming forward Jeremiah Oden and DeGourville in the final four minutes of the contest. Wyoming got closer but San Diego State emerged with a 74-57 victory.
Dixon-Waters (13 points), Byrd (12 points) and Simmons (ten points) each scored in double figures for San Diego State. Gwath led the way with six rebounds and Byrd dished out a quartet of assists.
Three Cowboys finished in double figures as Nasir Meyer scored 13 points, Gavin Gores had a dozen points and eight rebounds, and Leland Walker scored ten points.
San Diego State shot better from the field (50.0%-30.9%), beyond the arc (41.2%-29.4%) and the free throw line (78.6%-68.4%). The Aztecs scored more points in the paint (34-14), in transition (11-3) and off the bench (34-12).
THE NOTE
San Diego State improves to 3-0 this season, 8-0 under Brian Dutcher and 23-5 in its last 28 games when wearing red uniforms.
UP NEXT
San Diego State returns home to Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena on Saturday to battle New Mexico at 5 p.m. PT. The contest will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and San Diego Sports 760.