The San Diego State Aztecs needed a win to keep their undefeated hopes alive with the final game until conference play begin. They could not do much in the opening half, but a new team for the second half brought a 16-point deficit into a five-point win to stay unbeaten heading into conference games.
Iowa took the first points from Vegas but the Aztecs quickly went on an early 8-0 run to take a 8-2 lead in the first three minutes. Senior forward Yanni Wetzell made a layup to tie the game 2-2 and junior guard Jordan Schakel made a pair of three-point jumpers for a six-point lead.
The Hawkeyes came storming back for a 10-10 tie, thanks to five points from freshman guard CJ Fredrick, at the first media timeout.
The Aztecs went up 17-15, but fouls gave the Hawkeyes five straight free throws from freshman guard Joe Toussaint and junior forward Luka Garza, and Iowa was up 20-17.
After that, they ran away with it, leading 37-21 at one point. The Aztecs cut the deficit in half in the remaining three minutes and it was a 41-32 lead for Iowa at the half.
The Aztecs were in trouble at halftime as they were down nine points. They struggled getting to the free throw line as they had just two attempts. Meanwhile, Iowa was 9-for-10 with Joe Toussaint hitting five of them off the bench.
The Aztecs came out of the half firing, and San Diego State led within the first five minutes. One thing that changed was the Aztecs were not afraid to take their shot from beyond the arc. They went 3-for-5 in the first five minutes to add on nine points and they were right back in contention to be named tournament champions.
At the halfway mark of the final half, Malachi Flynn shot for three and the Aztecs reached their best lead of the night at 61-54.
Iowa brought it back to 61-59, but the Aztecs would not give up their lead as they took the game to 67-61 with a couple jumpers and free throws from Malachi Flynn.
In the final three minutes, the Aztecs added on and they held out for a 81-71 victory, their eighth win of the season, all of which came with at least five points between their opponent for the first time in program history.
Games notes:
In the first half, Jordan Schakel went 4-for-4 from the three-point line as the only player with double digit points in the first 20 minutes.
Junior forward Matt Mitchell also had a great opening half with nine points and a rebound.
What’s next?
The Aztecs have won the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational Tournament. Now they will enter conference play with an undefeated record with a road game against the Colorado State Rams.