SD State beats Long Beach State 92-67 in final exhibition

San Diego State recorded a 92-67 victory over Long Beach State on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena, ending their exhibition schedule with a win that came after two difficult losses to ranked opponents.

The Aztecs trailed 17-16 midway through the first half before taking control of the game. They led 45-38 at the break after sophomore guard Chance Gladden scored on a contested three-pointer as the half clock expired.

Coach Brian Dutcher credited the team’s collective effort for the result. He noted that six players finished with double-digit scoring and that the team held a 42-22 advantage on the boards.

"We’re getting better," Dutcher said. "This team has a high ceiling, but we have a long way to go to get to it." He added that every player who took the floor had a positive contribution, whether through shooting, passing, or defense.

Latrell Davis, who started in place of Isaiah Sy after recovering from a shoulder injury, led the team with 14 points and four assists. He shot 5 of 8 from the floor. Elzie Harrington added 13 points, while Gladden, Jeremiah Cherry, and Luka Skoric each scored 11.

Gladden also dished out seven assists. Tae Simmons grabbed six rebounds, including three on the offensive glass. True freshman Zach White contributed eight points, and Luca Vincini recorded three steals.

Long Beach State entered the game missing five players, including projected starting bigs Kaleb Smith, Noah Amenhauser, and Grgur Brcic. The Beach were picked to finish last in the Big West and had lost 102-53 to BYU in a recent scrimmage.

Coach Chris Acker, a former SDSU assistant, acknowledged the size mismatch. "It was really hard for us," Acker said. "I mean, we had no post presence." He stated that his players showed heart by battling on the glass and diving for loose balls.

The Aztecs scored on their first five possessions of the game, with five different players making baskets. They made seven of their first eight shot attempts. Despite this early surge, the first half remained competitive until the final minutes.

Long Beach State made 10 three-pointers but was outscored 42-22 in the paint. Reserve guard Christian Jones hit two banked three-pointers for the Beach in the first half. The second half saw a large margin develop as SDSU extended its lead.

The team will rest on Thursday before preparing for its season opener against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night. They will then play Colorado at Pechanga Arena on Saturday. The Aztecs had 13 turnovers in the final minutes of the exhibition.

Referee Kipp Kissinger, who worked the national championship game last season, officiated the match. The crowd was smaller than recent events, but the game provided a test against a non-ranked opponent before the regular season begins.