San Diego State secured a narrow 72-69 victory against Wyoming in Laramie on Saturday night. This win improved their record to 20-7 overall and 13-5 in conference play.
The Aztecs shot a solid 50% from the field and hit nine three-pointers. However, they faced a tough battle late in the game. Wyoming’s impressive rebounding effort, outpacing San Diego State 39 to 23, helped them score 15 second-chance points. Matija Belic was a standout for the Cowboys, contributing 12 points off the bench.
BJ Davis and Miles Byrd each led the Aztecs with 18 points. Jared Coleman-Jones added 12 points and grabbed five rebounds, providing critical support as well.
After the game, head coach Brian Dutcher shared his thoughts on the challenging nature of the game in Laramie. He reflected on his long history with these matchups, emphasizing the difficulties of playing against teams in unique environments like Wyoming.
“I’ve been coming here for 25 years. This looked like a Wyoming game. Some people don’t realize how tough it can be,” he said. “We knew what was at stake, and I reminded the team to fight for all 40 minutes. I thought we did that, even if we weren’t perfect.”
Dutcher noted the significance of the high altitude, explaining, “It’s the highest college environment you can play in. It’s definitely a challenge, and Wyoming has a good team. They’ve had many close games and found ways to win.”
He also discussed adjustments made in the second half. “In the second half, we rebounded better and took care of the ball, limiting ourselves to just seven turnovers,” he said. “We shot well from the field but struggled with free throws down the stretch, which could have cost us.”
The game highlighted the competitiveness of both teams and showcased the resilience of San Diego State as they continued their push in the season.
