San Diego’s Aztecs Suffer Defeat to Utah State Aggies

News Summary

In a hard-fought battle on February 22, 2025, the San Diego State Aztecs faced a setback against the Utah State Aggies, losing 79-71. The game was marred by an injury to forward Magoon Gwath, raising concerns for the Aztecs’ season. Despite a strong second-half effort led by Jared Coleman-Jones and BJ Davis, the Aztecs couldn’t finalize their comeback. This defeat brings their record to 18-7, making their upcoming match against New Mexico crucial as they strive for a successful end to the season.

San Diego’s Aztecs Face Tough Loss Against Utah State

In a nail-biting game on February 22, 2025, the San Diego State Aztecs faced off against the Utah State Aggies, only to suffer a disappointing 79-71 defeat. This loss not only stings, but it could also have some serious implications for the team’s season moving forward. Just two minutes into the game, the Aztecs took a devastating hit as forward Magoon Gwath went down with a knee injury, leaving fans and teammates alike holding their breath. Coach Brian Dutcher has reported that it appears to be a sprain, but the team is waiting for an MRI to confirm the full extent of the injury.

The Impact of Gwath’s Injury

Before this setback, Gwath had been on a major roll, being named Mountain West Freshman of the Week three times. His absence was palpable as the Aztecs initially struggled to find their rhythm after he was helped off the court, his right knee heavily iced and wrapped in a brace. This has unfortunately been a pattern for SDSU this season, starting games slow and finding themselves in tough spots.

As the first half progressed, Utah State seized the opportunity, heading into halftime with a 33-26 lead. A large part of this was due to a fantastic performance from Dexter Akanno, who was lighting up the scoreboard with 12 points by the end of the first half. The Aggies even expanded their lead to as much as 14 points, leaving the Aztecs needing to rally.

Aztecs’ Second-Half Surge

Jared Coleman-Jones was instrumental in the Aztecs’ resurgence, starting things off with a layup, and BJ Davis further fueled the comeback with two crucial three-pointers. It seemed like the Aztecs might steal the game right under the Aggies’ noses!

Bright Spots Amidst the Setback

Nick Boyd led his team with 15 points and six assists, while DJ Davis chipped in another 14 points, showcasing their resilience and skill amid the chaos. Though Coach Dutcher expressed pride in his team’s fighting spirit, he did stress the importance of turning these battles into wins as they approach the end of the season.

Suffering this loss puts the Aztecs’ record at 18-7 overall and 11-5 in Mountain West Conference play, making their upcoming match against the New Mexico Lobos – who are currently leading the conference – even more crucial. The team must regroup quickly to face this challenge head-on as they aim to get back into the win column and prove their mettle.

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Additional Resources

• Sports Illustrated: KenPom Rankings Update
• Google Search: San Diego State basketball
• Mountain West Connection: Basketball Reactions
• Wikipedia: 2025 Mountain West Conference men’s basketball tournament
• KSL Sports: San Diego State Loss Report
• Google News: Utah State Aggies
• Salt Lake Tribune: Utah State Basketball Update
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College Basketball
• Times of San Diego: SDSU vs Utah State Recap