UCSD stuns Utah State for Quad 1 win
Cal Poly rallies from 23-point deficit for overtime win
Logan, Utah, is one of the toughest places to play in the nation. Utah State is 35-3 at home in the last 3 seasons and came into last night as one of just 5 undefeated teams in the nation. The elevation of 4,700+ feet can stymie all but the most well-conditioned teams. The crowd, 7,354 last night, is knowledgeable and vocal.
Utah State came into the game with a NET of 20 and a projected 9 seeding for the NCAA Tournament by ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi. For what it’s worth, Lunardi was projecting UCSD as the Big West auto bid and a 12 seed with UC Irvine one of his first four teams out.
The Tritons overcame all of the challenges to bolster the Big West Conference’s two-bid scenario. If UCSD and UCI can hold serve, finish 1-2 in the conference standings and face each other in the conference championship game, I think they’re both in.
UC San Diego 75, Utah State 73
LOGAN, Utah — Tyler McGhie scored 26 points on six three-pointers and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was 10-for-12 from the free throw line as the Tritons (10-2) won their eighth in a row. UC San Diego erased a seven-point halftime deficit in the comeback win, outrebounding the Aggies 21-18 in the second half. With Utah State up 63-61, McGhie took over. He knocked down two threes and hit a jumper in the paint as the Tritons posted a 69-64 lead with 1:15 remaining. “I’m exceptionally proud,” UCSD head coach Eric Olen said. “This was a great performance from us in a tough environment. I know we didn’t get the full effect with not all of the students being here, but we felt it late. That’s a hell of a basketball team, so this is really a terrific accomplishment for us to get this win.”
Jarred Hyder scored 23 of his 29 points after halftime as the Mustangs (6-7) overcame a 23-point deficit to defeat the Pioneers (6-8). Hyder had 8 points in the overtime session, including 2 free throws with 48 seconds left that gave Cal Poly the lead for good. The ‘Stangs trailed 59-36 with 15:23 remaining, but Hyder made four 3-pointers in a 24-3 Cal Poly run.
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, all times PST
6:00 PM: Idaho at UC Davis, ESPN+, Live Stats
The Aggies (6-4) appear to have moved on from their Thanksgiving slump, bringing a 3-game winning streak into tonight’s rematch with the Vandals (4-7). Idaho is 1-2 vs. the Big West, with all of the previous games coming in Moscow, Idaho. That includes UC Davis winning 79-75 on Nov. 7, when TY Johnson scored 30 points, grabbed 7 boards and recorded 4 steals. Johnson is averaging 20.8 points per game.
7:00 PM: CSUN at USC, BIG Network, Live Stats
The Matadors (7-3) have been idle since the conclusion of Bold Week and head over the hill to take on the resurgent Trojans (7-4). USC was just 5-4 after losses to Cal (at home), Saint Mary’s, New Mexico and Oregon (again at home). But the Trojans went up to Washington and won by 24 and then stomped Montana State by 26 on Sunday. Recall that CSUN won at Montana State in overtime. Desmond Claude, a 6’6” junior guard portal transfer from Xavier, is leading the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. Chibuzo Agbo is the top 3-point threat with 23 treys.
7:00 PM: Montana State at UC Riverside, ESPN+, Live Stats
The Highlanders (7-4) have won 3 in a row and are undefeated (4-0) at home this season. The Bobcats (5-6) are 0-5 in non-Quad 4 games this season. Montana State has at times been competitive vs. high-quality competition. The Bobcats lost by just 12 at Wisconsin, by 3 at Northwestern and by 3 in overtime at home vs. CSUN.
7:00 PM: UC Santa Barbara at Loyola Marymount, ESPN+, Live Stats
LMU needed the old hook-and-ladder play to defeat Prairie View A&M the other night. The Lions (5-4) have been up and down, with wins over Nevada and Belmont and a home loss to North Dakota. Senior guard Will Johnston leads four LMU players in double figures with 15.7 points per game along with 2.8 threes per game. Jevon Porter, a 6’11” forward, chips in 14 ppg along with 8.5 rebounds per contest. The Gauchos (7-3) haven’t looked the same since starting out the season with dominant wins over San Francisco State and Portland. One reason may be the unavailability of 4-man Colin Smith, who had an Achilles injury last season and a sprained ankle plus a concussion this season.
7:00 PM: CSU Bakersfield at Portland, ESPN+, Live Stats
The Roadrunners (5-6) are 0-5 in true road games this season, while the Pilots (4-7) have yet to record a win over a team in the top 300 in NET. Bakersfield is 0-3 all-time vs. Portland, losing two seasons ago in the Rose City by a score of 69-51. Portland is 1-1 vs. the Big West this season, getting torched by UCSB 94-53 and winning 63-61 a week later at Long Beach State.
What a night for the Big West!