SAN DIEGO – Tae Simmons recorded his first career double double as San Diego State cruised to a 102-78 victory against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night at Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
San Diego State (1-0) will look to keep up its winning ways when it plays on Saturday against Colorado in the Bill Walton Classic at 12:30 p.m. The event is being held at Pechanga Arena.
Cal State Fullerton (0-1) will try to bounce back when it heads to Vermillion, South Dakota, to face the South Dakota Coyotes at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
San Diego State jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but the teams went back and forth until a 15-4 run by the Aztecs starting with 6:27 remaining in the first half turned the tide from a two-point Titan lead to a nine-point advantage for SDSU with 2:54 remaining in the half. San Diego State took a 54-43 lead into the locker room at halftime. Latrell Davis lit up the scoreboard with 18 of his 25 points coming in the opening 20 minutes.
The Aztecs went on an 11-0 run early in the second half to extend their lead to 19 points. The Titans pulled back within eight points with 15 minutes remaining before another Davis three started a 12-0 SDSU run that gave San Diego State an 81-61 advantage with 10:55 remaining. The Aztecs did not look back, maintaining a lead of at least 15 points for the rest of the game.
In addition to Simmons’ 14 points, 11 rebounds double double, five other Aztecs scored in double figures. Davis led the way with his 25 points, and Bear Cherry and Elzie Harrington each scored 15. Isaiah Sy poured in a dozen points and Luca Vincini scored ten points. Cherry and Vincini each pulled down seven boards and Chance Gladden dished out eight assists. Cherry also blocked four shots on the defensive end.
Cal State Fullerton was led by Josh Ward’s 22 points while Christian Williams and Matthew Willenborg each scored a dozen points and both Malcolm Bell and Bailey Nunn tallied 11.
San Diego State shot better from the field (48.5 percent to 40.6 percent), beyond the arc (34.8 percent to 21.9 percent) and the free throw line (82.4 percent to 62.5 percent). The Aztecs won the rebounding battle 50-28 including an 18-11 advantage on the offensive glass, which SDSU turned into a 27-4 lead in second chance points.
THE NOTE
Tae Simmons had the eighth double double by an Aztec in a season opener in the Steve Fisher/Brian Dutcher era (since the start of 1999-2000).
UP NEXT
San Diego State plays in the Bill Walton Classic in Pechanga Arena on Saturday. The Aztecs will battle the Colorado Buffaloes at 12:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on USA Network and San Diego Sports 760.