San Diego State Aztecs' Paint Battle vs Grand Canyon Antelopes at Viejas Arena

The San Diego State Aztecs faced off against the Grand Canyon Antelopes in a regular season game at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs, now holding a 0-1 record, were outscored by the Antelopes, who improved to 1-0 with a final score of 73-63.

First Half

The first half saw the Aztecs take an early lead with their aggressive play in the paint. They managed to score 33 points, thanks largely to their effective rebounding and second-chance opportunities. Pharaoh Compton contributed significantly with his presence on both ends of the court, grabbing rebounds and adding points from close range. However, despite these efforts, the Lopes kept pace by capitalizing on fast break opportunities and efficient shooting from beyond the arc.

Second Half

In the second half, Grand Canyon's tactical adjustments became evident as they increased their defensive pressure. The Lopes' defense forced turnovers that translated into crucial points off turnovers for them. Reese Dixon-Waters tried to rally SDSU with his scoring ability but struggled against tight coverage from GC's defenders. Meanwhile, Magoon Gwath showed resilience under pressure by blocking shots and maintaining defensive intensity.

Despite San Diego State's attempts to close the gap through free throws—where they excelled with an impressive 89 percent accuracy—their field goal percentage dipped to just 36 percent overall. This allowed Grand Canyon to extend their lead further in this period.

Conclusion

The San Diego State Aztecs vs Grand Canyon Antelopes recap highlights how pivotal plays in transition and perimeter shooting helped GC secure victory over SDSU at home ground advantage was not enough for SDSU this time around.

Looking ahead, SDSU will travel next week for another challenging matchup against Colorado State Rams at Moby Arena on February 21st at 6:00 PM EST; fans can catch all action live via CBS Sports Network broadcast! Share your thoughts about this game or upcoming fixtures within our community!