Aztecs Edge Out Rams in Overtime Showdown at Viejas Arena
The San Diego State Aztecs and the Colorado State Rams delivered a nail-biting contest that culminated in a 74-71 victory for the home team. The Aztecs now stand with an improved record, while the Rams' record took a hit after this intense matchup. The final score reflected just how closely matched these two teams were throughout the game.
From tip-off, the Aztecs demonstrated their intent to dominate on their home court. They outscored the Rams 20-15 in the first quarter, setting a strong pace for the game. However, despite this early lead, it was not smooth sailing for San Diego State as both teams experienced numerous lead changes and ties during regulation time.
The Aztecs showcased resilience especially in rebounding where they outperformed their opponents with a total of 47 rebounds compared to 39 by Colorado State. This included an impressive count of 11 offensive rebounds which contributed significantly to second-chance points totaling 16 for San Diego State.
Offensively, both teams had similar shooting percentages from beyond the arc with San Diego State hitting six three-pointers at a rate of 38 percent and Colorado State also making six but at a slightly lower rate of 29 percent. However, it was from the free-throw line where San Diego State gained an edge over Colorado State by converting at a rate of 71 percent compared to Colorado's 64 percent.
Defensively, SDSU managed four blocks over CSU's three and recorded two steals during playtime. Their defensive efforts were further highlighted by managing to keep fast break points off their sheet entirely while limiting turnovers to nine instances – equaling that of their opponents but proving more efficient with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.67 against CSU's ratio of 1.56.
In overtime, it was clear that fatigue had set in for both sides as they battled fiercely for each point; however, SDSU managed to secure those crucial extra points ending overtime with fourteen against eleven by CSU which ultimately sealed their victory.
Looking ahead after this hard-fought win, fans can anticipate another exciting match as The San Diego State Aztecs are scheduled to face off against Air Force Falcons on January third at Clune Arena located in Colorado Springs CO zip code:80840 USA state:CO city:Colorado Springs country:USA . Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into watch this upcoming encounter slated for six thirty PM Mountain Time Zone (MT).