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By Josh Frojelin
San Diego State University’s men’s basketball team was ranked third in the preseason Pac-12 media poll. No. 14 Gonzaga and Utah State, a three- and a nine-seed, respectively, in last season’s March Madness tournament, led the poll.
SDSU’s Elzie Harrington and Tae Simmons were named to the Pac-12’s preseason Impact List, and are two of the team’s four returners from last season. The Aztecs tapped the transfer portal and European professional leagues to add to their roster depth.
It showed in Saturday’s inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic at Pechanga Arena San Diego by dominating the University of Colorado by a score of 77-66.
“They held us to less than 40 percent field goal percentage,” Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said. “So, their defense is better than our offense. And then they out-rebounded us by 11 … They did to us what we wanted to do to them. And when you out-rebound people by more than eight, you hold them at a 40 percent or less field goal percentage, you’re going to win.
“I wish we could have represented a little better than we did, but credit to San Diego State on that.”
The Aztecs went on an early 9-0 run that helped them build a double-digit lead. They never held less than an eight-point lead after the six-minute mark. Sophomore transfer Chance Gladden led the Aztecs with 20 points. Six players had at least eight points.
“Chance (Gladden) is a good player,” SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher said. “You saw it today. He plays with a good pace to his game. You wouldn’t say he’s dynamically athletic, but he knows how to play with pace and get to a spot. And when he gets there, he’s drawing fouls and he’s making assists. I’m really happy with [his] performance today.”
Harrington, a sophomore, finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks in 33 minutes. Colorado’s Barrington Hargress put up 33 points, but the rest of the Buffaloes’ offense struggled.
SDSU improved to 2-0 with a strong non-conference schedule still remaining. SDSU will face No. 9 UCLA and will likely face No. 11 Tennessee at the Players Era Festival Nov. 24-28 in Las Vegas.
The Aztecs were scheduled to meet Bethune-Cookman in a Veterans Day special Wednesday at Viejas Arena before traveling north to Oceanside’s FrontWave Arena on Sunday, Nov. 15, to take on New Mexico State.
SDSU topped Bethune-Cookman, 88-75, to improve to 3-0. Latrell Davis keyed the Aztecs with 26 points while Harrington added 18 points and eight assists. Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry logged 15 points and three rebounds despite playing with multiple second-half injuries.
The game was close at halftime with SDSU holding a narrow 36-35 lead. The Aztec out-scored the Wildcats 52-40 n the second half. Bethune-Cookman dropped to 0-4.
