NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
SAN DIEGO – Viejas Arena has had its share of moments over the years where the San Diego State Aztecs have unnerved their opponents down the stretch.
On Tuesday night, uncharacteristically it was the Aztecs who at times appeared sped up in the second half, as the Grand Canyon Lopes took advantage of four turnovers over the final six-and-a-half minutes and salted the season series with a 73-63 win on Tuesday night.
Advertisement
Miles Byrd led SDSU (18-7, 12-3 Mountain West) with 18 points, scoring 13 in the second stanza, but the hosts shot just 31.3% from the field in the final 20 minutes, including making 2 of 13 over a nine-minute stretch where Grand Canyon (17-9, 10-5) took control.
Jaden Henley scored a game-high 21 points with three steals, while Efe Demirel added 14 points with 11 rebounds and Makiah Williams scored 11 points with seven rebounds and three assists.
A top of the key 3-pointer by Byrd 86 seconds into the second half was the last time the Aztecs held the lead, as GCU responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead. The closest SDSU was able to pull the rest of the way came on Byrd scoring an and-one to make it 43-41 GCU with just over five minutes played.
But Williams responded with a 3-pointer and Dennis Evans scored a second-chance bucket by hooking a rebound home. Grand Canyon had a 22-12 edge in paint scoring for the second half, part of a 30-26 advantage for the game.
Advertisement
Trailing by 12-points with 8:21 remaining, the final SDSU kick saw the Scarlet and Black pull within 5-points twice, with Tae Simmons making a pair of free-throws after getting fouled in transition with 4:29 to play, then Byrd making a pair of at the line with 1:49 to play.
Simmons finished with 9 points and four rebounds, while Taj DeGourville had 8 points in 22 minutes off the bench — he and Byrd were the only Aztecs to make three or more from the field.
GCU closed the game out by scoring 7 of the final 9 points for the game. The Lopes have won six of the seven games all-time…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/san-diego-state-stumbles-down-061259343.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-02-18 06:12:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
