San Diego State Aztecs' Paint Domination Not Enough Against Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena
The San Diego State Aztecs faced off against the Air Force Falcons in a conference game that saw the home team emerge victorious with a final score of 71-63. The Aztecs, who have been striving to improve their season record, now stand at 0-1 while the Falcons have kicked off their season with a 1-0 start.
The game unfolded at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, where both teams battled through four quarters and an intense overtime period. Despite the loss, the Aztecs showcased a strong presence inside with an impressive 42 points in the paint compared to the Falcons' 32. The visitors also outrebounded their opponents with a total of 47 rebounds; defensive efforts led to collecting 35 defensive boards and adding another nine on offense.
San Diego State's shooting from within the arc was notable as they made 23 out of their 49 two-point attempts, reflecting a solid field goal percentage of around forty-seven percent. However, they struggled beyond the arc with only two three-pointers made from twelve attempts – approximately seventeen percent shooting from distance. Free throw accuracy was one area where they excelled, sinking eleven out of fourteen shots which translates to about seventy-nine percent.
Defensively, San Diego State managed four blocks and three steals but committed nineteen personal fouls over the course of play. Their ball handling could have been better; twenty-two turnovers were recorded against them which allowed Air Force to capitalize by scoring six points off these mistakes.
On the other side of court, Air Force's defense proved disruptive as they amassed fifteen steals and forced numerous turnovers leading to sixteen points off turnovers for themselves. They also took advantage of second-chance opportunities by scoring ten second-chance points thanks largely due to their offensive rebounding effort.
As fans look ahead after this hard-fought contest, they can mark their calendars for San Diego State Aztecs' next game scheduled on January 7th against Fresno State Bulldogs at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl in San Diego. This upcoming match will be broadcasted nationally on CBS Sports Network channel two hundred twenty-one starting at one o'clock PM Pacific Time.