San Diego State Overpowers Oregon 97-80 in Players Era Festival Rematch
San Diego State bounced back with a dominant 97-80 victory over Oregon in TuesdayS Players Era Festival matchup, avenging a loss from last year’s event. The Aztecs showcased an impressive offensive performance, shooting 50.8% from the field, and controlled the boards, outrebounding the Ducks 34-26.
This win carries significance beyond a simple series tie; SDSU is competing in a unique tournament where financial stakes are high. Each participating team receives $1 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds, with an additional $1 million awarded to the tournament champion. The Aztecs, the sole representative from a non-power conference in last year’s eight-team field, are now part of an expanded 18-team bracket and aim to capitalize on this chance.
Early momentum set the tone for the Aztecs,fueled by strong individual plays. Dixon-Waters, returning from a season-long foot injury, contributed with a pull-up jumper, while preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year Elzie Harrington connected on a 3-pointer. A sequence featuring a Gwath block, rebound, and assist to Miles Byrd, culminating in a Pharoh Compton dunk, propelled SDSU to a 15-11 lead.
San Diego State built a 51-41 halftime advantage, punctuated by a 12-0 run. The second half saw the Aztecs extend their lead beyond 20 points with a series of emphatic dunks, including authoritative finishes from Compton and Byrd, and an alley-oop connection between Compton and Harrington to reach an 88-71 score.
Compton and Byrd each delivered multiple highlight-reel dunks throughout the game. The Aztecs’ victory evened the all-time series with Oregon at 4-4, avenging a 78-68 defeat in last year’s Players Era Festival.
SDSU will continue tournament play on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against the Baylor Bears.
