The San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball team will have a chance to avenge a controversial loss when they host Grand Canyon University on Tuesday night at Viejas Arena. The Antelopes handed SDSU its first Mountain West Conference defeat on January 21st, 70-69, in a game decided by a late foul call that continues to be debated.
SDSU coach Brian Dutcher used film of the final seconds of that game – a chaotic sequence culminating in a pair of free throws made by Grand Canyon’s Makaih Williams – not to fuel anger, but as a teaching moment. Dutcher showed his team how to better defend a late-game drive, emphasizing funneling the ball handler towards the middle of the court rather than allowing a clear path down the sideline.
“We lost, so it hurts,” SDSU guard Taj DeGourville said before a practice session. “One can’t think that we got robbed, but we’re going to have to take it back, though. So… yeah.” Fellow guard Reese Dixon-Waters echoed the sentiment, stating the team felt they “had the game won” before the controversial call.
The initial loss was preceded by a missed free throw from SDSU’s BJ Davis with 7.7 seconds remaining. Davis, typically an 87.7% free-throw shooter, admitted the miss – which bounced multiple times around the rim – affected him for weeks, contributing to a brief slump in his performance. He failed to score in his next game at UNLV and struggled in subsequent contests before regaining his form.
The rematch against Grand Canyon, and an upcoming game against Utah State, represent key opportunities for the Aztecs (18-6, 12-2) to tighten their grip on the Mountain West standings. SDSU is currently second in the conference, with a 12-2 record. Utah State handed SDSU a 71-66 loss on January 31st, and will visit Viejas Arena next week.
Dutcher acknowledged the importance of these games, calling them “payback games,” but cautioned that simply wanting a win isn’t enough. “We have to play better to win,” he said. “We have to be better offensively against a really good defensive team. We have to continue to rebound at a high level.”
The January 21st game in Phoenix was also marked by a questionable officiating decision. The foul call on SDSU freshman Tae Simmons came from an official, Jeffrey Anderson, who was positioned in a location where protocol suggests deferring to a trailing official. Brian Dorsey, a highly-rated referee according to Kenpom ratings, had a clear view of the play but did not signal a foul.
Dutcher also pointed out that Grand Canyon had built a 12-point lead in the second half before SDSU rallied, taking the lead on a tip-in by Simmons with 58 seconds left. “They could argue that they were ahead by double digits late in the game, and the Aztecs shouldn’t have even had a chance to win,” Dutcher said.
Grand Canyon (16-9, 9-5) has bolstered its roster through significant investments in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and revenue sharing, attracting several transfers who were highly sought after by other programs, including Kansas and Louisville. The Antelopes have reached the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons and boast a roster ranked 13th nationally in Division I experience and 15th in height.
SDSU will be without freshman guard Elzie Harrington, who has been sidelined for the past four weeks with a lower leg injury. He participated in some drills at Monday’s practice, but Dutcher indicated he will likely sit out one more game, with a potential return for Saturday’s game at Colorado State.
The Aztecs will welcome back 7-foot forward Magoon Gwath, who missed six games with a hip injury before returning in Saturday’s 71-57 win against Nevada. Gwath had a significant impact in his return, scoring 13 points and blocking five shots in just 14 minutes, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Following a six-month recovery from knee surgery earlier this season, Gwath has averaged 16.5 points and 4.0 blocks while shooting perfectly from the field in games immediately following a layoff.
“He would tell you he’s got the 2-pound knee brace off and he’s moving better,” Dutcher said. “This was the point last year when we lost Magoon for the rest of the season until the NCAA Tournament. Now this is a different dynamic. We’ve added him for the last seven games.”
SDSU will face Grand Canyon at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Viejas Arena. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network and broadcast on 760-AM radio.
