SAN DIEGO — In a thrilling finish, Tucker Anderson nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing with just 6.8 seconds remaining, propelling Utah State to a stunning 67-66 victory over No. 20 San Diego State on Saturday night. This win was remarkable as it came after the Aggies had been down by as much as 18 points earlier in the game.
As the game neared its conclusion, San Diego State’s Wayne McKinney III attempted a 3-pointer but missed, leading to wild celebrations among the Utah State bench as players surged forward to congratulate Anderson on his clutch shot. The opportunity for Anderson arose after BJ Davis of SDSU had missed a critical 3-point attempt just prior.
For Utah State, Ian Martinez led the scoring effort with 17 points, while Mason Falslev and Anderson contributed 16 and 14 points, respectively. The Aggies improved their record to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference after this hard-fought battle.
San Diego State, now holding an 8-3 record and 1-1 in conference play, struggled offensively during the second half. Miles Byrd and Nick Boyd both scored 14 points for the Aztecs, but their shooting woes contributed to their failure to maintain a winning streak that had reached four games prior.
The game saw the Aggies start in a difficult position, trailing 40-22 late in the first half. However, they made a significant comeback, taking their first lead at 56-55 with Falslev’s layup 6:16 remaining. Despite a brief lull in scoring, they closed the gap after SDSU had taken a 65-58 lead, thanks to a 3-point play by Martinez and a crucial shot from beyond the arc by Anderson with just over a minute left in the game.
Key moments of the game highlighted Utah State’s perseverance throughout their ongoing three-game road trip, overcoming a halftime deficit of 43-32. They initiated a critical 8-0 run early in the second half, showcasing their determination. Conversely, while San Diego State exhibited strong defensive intensity at the outset, the Aggies managed to adjust their strategy to exploit defensive lapses as the game progressed.
The standout moment undoubtedly belonged to Anderson’s game-winning shot, which snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Notably, San Diego State’s shooting dropped drastically, as they made only 25.9% of their attempts (7 of 27) in the second half, culminating in a disappointing overall performance of 38.5% (20 of 52).
Looking ahead, Utah State prepares to face Nevada on Tuesday night, while San Diego State will aim to rebound when they visit Boise State next Saturday.
