In a triumphant close to the regular season, San Diego State secured an 80-61 victory over Nevada on Saturday night, led by Nicholas Boyd’s impressive 18-point performance. This victory sets the Aztecs (21-8, 14-6 Mountain West Conference) in a favorable position with a first-round bye as they prepare to face fifth-seeded Boise State in the upcoming conference tournament quarterfinals, starting Wednesday in Paradise, Nevada. While San Diego State and Boise State concluded the regular season tied in conference standings, the Aztecs hold the upper hand by having swept the season series with their rivals.
Boyd’s stellar performance saw him shooting 7 of 10, including 3 of 6 from beyond the three-point line. Contributing to the Aztecs’ dominance, Miles Heide added 14 points, demonstrating efficient play with 5 of 5 from the field and 3 of 5 from the charity stripe, along with grabbing six rebounds. Pharaoh Compton also played a significant role, scoring 13 points with a notable 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line.
On the Nevada side, Tyler Rolison proved to be the standout player, leading the Wolf Pack (16-15, 8-12) with 19 points and securing eight rebounds. Supporting rolls saw Nick Davidson contributing 16 points, accompanied by seven rebounds and four assists, and Kobe Sanders adding 13 points.
San Diego State took command of the game within the first two minutes, seizing the lead and never looking back. Boyd’s scoring prowess was evident early on, leading all scorers with 12 points in the first half, propelling the Aztecs to a commanding 43-21 advantage at the halftime break. Though Nevada put up a stronger fight in the second half, outscoring the Aztecs by three points, it was not enough to close the gap. Compton stepped up post-break, posting a team-high of 11 points during this time.
