Following a two-week hiatus from play, the San Diego State Aztecs were rusty on offense, and despite allowing only 42 points on defense, the offense didn’t do enough to keep the Aztecs unbeaten in conference play.

San Diego State went the first six minutes without making a basket. They shot 30% from the field, 27% from beyond the arc, and missed their only free throw attempt. And still, the Aztecs had a one-point lead going into halftime.

“Defense was a premium, rebounding was a necessity, we knew coming into today both teams are elite defensively and that’s what it looked like,” head coach Brian Dutcher said.

Matt Bradley, the Aztecs’ leading scorer, made just one of six shots for three points in the first half. Forward Nathan Mensah led the team with six points in the opening half.

While it was a very physical half, the refs let the players play for the most part. There were a total of nine fouls called and three free throws attempted.

In the second half, it took over 10 minutes for the Aztecs to make a field goal, and Boise State started the second half on a 13-1 run in the first 10 minutes.

However, once sophomore guard Lamont Butler made the team’s first field goal of the second half with 9:47 remaining, the Aztecs went on a 13-0 run to take their first lead since halftime.

“We’re just trying to get back into it, finding that rhythm again,” Butler said.

But the Broncos came storming back in the final two minutes of the game, and mistakes on offense for the Aztecs cost them the game at home.

In front of 11,357 fans, 91% capacity at Viejas Arena, the Aztecs dropped their first game of the conference season.

“Obviously a disappointing finish to an old school basketball game,” Dutcher added.

The Aztecs began a stretch of three games in five days, and now look to their road game at the Utah State Aggies at 7:30 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 24.