Utah State Completes Sweep Over San Diego State in 79-71 Win

For only the second time since joining the Mountain West Conference, Utah State has managed to sweep San Diego State in a season series.

Dexter Akanno delivered a career-best performance on Saturday night, scoring 26 points and hitting 7-of-9 three-pointers to power the Aggies to a 79-71 victory over the Aztecs at The Spectrum.

The last time Utah State swept San Diego State was during the 2020-21 season, when both matchups took place in Logan due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Strong Finish Propels Aggies to Victory

Despite building a 14-point lead in the first half, the Aggies saw their advantage slip away. San Diego State moved ahead 69-65 with just over three minutes remaining, but Ian Martinez took control down the stretch. Martinez poured in 10 of Utah State’s final 14 points as part of a dominant 14-2 run that secured the win.

Martinez and Deyton Albury each contributed 18 points for Utah State (24-4, 14-3 MWC), which has now won eight of its last ten games. The Aggies were highly effective from the free-throw line, converting 26-of-32 attempts, with Albury sinking 12-of-13. They also drained 11 three-pointers in the win.

Key Contributions Across the Board

Though Mason Falslev struggled offensively, shooting just 1-for-8 from the field and finishing with five points, he made a significant impact on the boards. Falslev grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, helping Utah State out-rebound San Diego State 38-30.

Akanno led the team at halftime with 12 points, as Utah State took a 33-26 lead into the break. Martinez’s clutch free throw with 2:57 remaining put the Aggies ahead for good at 70-69.

For San Diego State (18-7, 11-5 MWC), Nick Boyd led the scoring effort with 15 points, while BJ Davis added 14.

Next Up

Utah State will travel to face Boise State on Wednesday night in another critical Mountain West matchup.

keelee-mccain

Leave a Comment