Picture this: a home crowd at Viejas Arena, buzzing with anticipation, only to witness their beloved San Diego State Aztecs getting utterly overwhelmed right from the jump in a preseason exhibition match against the formidable No. 12 UCLA Bruins. It was a stark reminder of how fragile momentum can be in college basketball – and trust me, this game laid bare some uncomfortable truths that are sure to fuel debates among fans and analysts alike. But here's where it gets controversial: should teams like SDSU, brimming with potential but plagued by rookie jitters, even bother with these tune-up games that don't impact standings? Stick around, because there's more to unpack, including a comeback that had everyone believing in miracles... almost.
Let's rewind to the Aztecs' last outing before this one. Just weeks earlier, they were demolished by North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament's First Four round, falling behind by a whopping 40 points and ultimately losing by 27 – a performance that felt like a punch to the gut for supporters dreaming of a deep postseason run. And wouldn't you know it? They picked up right where that heartbreak left off.
By the 7½-minute mark on Friday night, the scoreboard read a brutal Aztecs 0, Bruins 17. For those new to the game, preseason exhibitions are like friendly dress rehearsals – opportunities for teams to test strategies, build chemistry, and address weaknesses in front of live fans, without the pressure of official wins or NCAA Tournament seeding implications. Coach Brian Dutcher had pitched this mid-October showdown as a chance to expose the 'good, the bad, and the in-between' of a squad loaded with high hopes. Boy, did it deliver on that promise.
Sure, there were plenty of bright spots to build on, but it's clear the Aztecs have some serious grinding ahead. The final tally? Bruins 67, Aztecs 60 – a narrow loss that masked a rollercoaster of a contest. The hosts stumbled out of the gate, missing their first nine field goal attempts and coughing up 10 turnovers before Louisiana Tech transfer guard Sean Newman Jr., not exactly a marksman known for his shooting prowess, finally connected on a three-pointer from the left wing at the 12:15 mark of the first half. That milestone not only put the first points on the board but also silenced the rhythmic applause from the fans – a tradition at home games where the crowd claps until the Aztecs sink their opening basket. By then, that clap had turned into an awkward echo of their early struggles.
Sophomore guard Taj DeGourville summed it up poignantly afterward: 'We did a solid job sticking together as a unit, even when we were trailing 17-2 or whatever the deficit was. Our first basket dropping was like, “All right, come on, let’s ramp it up a bit. Here we go. We’re in it now.” It was essentially a jolt to wake us up.'
Things definitely improved after halftime as the Aztecs dialed back the turnovers – those are costly mistakes where a player loses possession of the ball, often leading to easy points for the opposition – and shifted to a revamped offensive system featuring faster ball-sharing and fluid movement. A strong 17-5 run brought them within three points with seven minutes remaining, but UCLA regrouped and held on for the victory.
Still, let's not overlook the positive script: Over the last 32 minutes, SDSU outscored UCLA 60-50, and in the second half alone, it was 37-28 in their favor. And remember, key pieces were missing from the puzzle – 7-foot sophomore Magoon Gwath, sidelined with a knee injury, warmed up in a brace and suited up but wasn't medically cleared to play. Junior wing Miles Byrd, nursing an abdominal strain after sitting out most of the prior two weeks, contributed just two points and four turnovers in 21 minutes without starting.
Dutcher reflected on the experience with a mix of satisfaction and realism: 'From our standpoint, it was invaluable. We uncovered some areas needing improvement, pinpointed strengths, and identified tasks to tackle. That's precisely what you aim for in these sessions. ... We fell behind and learned, “Hey, unless we bring our A-game, we're not going to cut it.” We elevated our play and clawed our way back into contention. This scrimmage played out exactly as I'd hoped. I wish we'd pulled off the win, but that's not the core objective here.'
The starting lineup featured Taj DeGourville, BJ Davis, Reese Dixon-Waters, Jeremiah Oden, and Miles Heide – with only Davis having been a consistent starter last year. That lack of experience shone through immediately, as the first 10 possessions were a parade of errors: turnover after turnover, interspersed with missed shots.
By late in the opening half, the Aztecs were hitting just 4 of 21 overall and 2 of 13 from beyond the arc, compounded by 14 turnovers. At the break, it stood 39-23 in UCLA's favor.
But Dixon-Waters flipped the script to start the second stanza, nailing a tough jumper from the left side, which seemed to ease the tension gripping his teammates. Byrd broke his scoreless drought from the first half, and soon set up Dixon-Waters for an open three. That ignited the crowd – previously subdued – and fueled a rally that, while spirited, came up just short.
Dutcher pinpointed the issue: 'Down the stretch, we committed errors we simply can't afford. We knew we were running a specific defense all night, but we deviated from the plan, thinking, “Hey, let's improvise; it might pay off.” Spoiler: it didn't. You've got to return to basics, to fundamentals, if you want to secure victories. We strayed from ours and piled up too many mistakes.'
On the Bruins' side, Donovan Dent – formerly of New Mexico – stole the show with 18 points, drawing eight fouls (that's when a defender violates rules on an offensive player, often leading to free throws) and converting all 10 free throws. His backcourt partner, Skyy Clark, chipped in 13 points on just eight attempts.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin appreciated the Aztecs' push: 'I was glad they mounted a comeback. I needed to gauge how Donnie and Skyy would respond. Intentionally, I skipped calling a timeout. You can afford that when you've got arguably the top two guards in the nation.'
For SDSU, Reese Dixon-Waters led the charge with 19 points in his first game back after sitting out the entire previous season due to a foot injury. Taj DeGourville was the only other player in double digits, scoring 10, while eight teammates contributed between two and six points each.
Unlike some exhibitions that allow unlimited personal fouls, this one adhered to standard rules, capping players at five. Newman and Pharaoh Compton fouled out for the Aztecs in a contest rife with 38 total fouls.
Cronin offered insight into the physical nature: 'They'll either push referees to whistle every contact as a foul, or they'll wrestle, shove, and grapple aggressively. I'm aware of that, and I say it with respect. That's the environment we're stepping into, ready to endure it ourselves. It's not an easy undertaking.'
The Aztecs have about two weeks to regroup before their next exhibition on October 29 at home against USD. The regular season kicks off on November 4 versus Long Beach State.
And this is the part most people miss: while exhibitions like this are dismissed by some as mere practice runs, they reveal character – or the lack thereof – under pressure. Is the physicality here a necessary rite of passage for teams, or does it cross into unsportsmanlike territory that could deter talent? Do you agree with Dutcher that these games are goldmines for growth, even in defeat, or should they be scrapped to avoid demoralizing losses? What's your take on SDSU's prospects – will they bounce back stronger, or is this a sign of bigger issues ahead? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
