San Diego State Aztecs Edge Out UNLV Runnin' Rebels in Overtime Nail-Biter
The San Diego State Aztecs emerged victorious with a hard-fought 74-71 win over the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The Aztecs, who did not have a rank going into the game, improved their record while the Runnin' Rebels also remained unranked following the contest. The game, which extended into overtime, saw the Aztecs score 22 points in the first half and surge to add another 43 in the second. In overtime, they secured their win with an additional 9 points.
The San Diego State team showcased resilience throughout the match at Thomas & Mack Center. They dominated total rebounds with a significant margin of 50 compared to UNLV's 31 and were particularly aggressive on offense, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds. Their defensive efforts were equally impressive as they managed to collect 24 defensive rebounds over the course of play.
Offensively, San Diego State was relentless in their pursuit of victory despite shooting only 37 percent from field goals and a modest three-point percentage of just above one quarter at 26 percent. They attempted more two-pointers than their opponents (48 attempts), making good on nearly half of them for a two-point percentage of approximately two-fifths at around 42 percent.
Their free throw performance was less than stellar; however, they still managed to make more than half of their shots from the line with a free throw percentage hovering around three-fifths at about 62 percent. Points in paint were crucial for SDSU as they racked up an impressive total of over thirty points within this area.
On defense and transition plays, SDSU excelled by recording nine steals which contributed significantly to their sixteen points off turnovers. Their ability to convert opportunities was further highlighted by scoring twenty second-chance points thanks largely due to their offensive rebounding effort.
While personal fouls were high on both sides—with SDSU committing twenty—their discipline ensured no players were fouled out or ejected from play.
The Runnin' Rebels put up strong resistance throughout this intense matchup but fell short despite having seven blocks compared to SDSU's four and converting four steals themselves. Their free throw accuracy was notably higher than that of SDSU's at approximately three-quarters or roughly seventy-six percent success rate but it wasn't enough to secure them victory against a determined San Diego State side that fought tooth and nail for every point.
Looking ahead after this gripping encounter, fans can catch San Diego State Aztecs next facing off against Utah State Aggies on March fifteen at eight-thirty PM Eastern Time (ET). This upcoming game will be held once again at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcasted live on CBS Sports Network for eager fans ready to support their team through another challenging match-up.