Aztecs scoring evaporates in second half of tough loss to No. 1 Arizona

Key Highlights

• Just three makes over the first 10 minutes of the second, as the Scarlet and Black settled for mid-range and perimeter jump shots instead of attacking the rim.
• They had 13 attempts at the line in the opening half, but it took until the 8:03 mark to draw the second Wildcats foul out of the break. Arizona generated a 15-8 edge in free throw attempts in the second half, and had a 27-19 edge in freebie tries for the game. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Wildcats relentlessly attacked the paint, which also created additional space for their shooters to start making from downtown.
• Back-to-back 3’s from Anthony Dell’Orso and Dwayne Aristode gave the Wildcats their first double-digit lead (47-34) at the 11 minute mark and forced a timeout. Arizona’s length and height gave the Aztecs fits all night on offense, with SDSU making just eight field goals in the first half and seven in the second half.
• BJ Davis saw his seven-game streak of scoring in double-figures end after going 1 of 12 shooting, as he, Dixon-Waters and Miles Byrd combined to go 5 of 29 from the field. For much of the first half the game was played at the Aztecs tempo, with the Wildcats only able to manage 3 points on the fast break.
• The defense also held an Arizona offense that averaged nearly 31 shot attempts per half to 25, as early foul trouble for Peat meant the Wildcats top scorer played only seven minutes. After Bradley’s pair of free throws just after the first media timeout, SDSU got back-to-back scores when Pharaoh Compton converted a pair at the line and then Jeremiah Oden splashed a 3-pointer to give the Scarlet and Black the lead that they held for over 15 minutes. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDixon-Waters made his first of two jumpers in the opening 20, the only Scarlet and Black player to do so, which kicked off a mini 6-0 run that pushed the lead out to 8 points near the midway mark.