By james art 
RENO, Nev. – The Nevada Wolfpack fell to the San Diego State Aztecs in what started well for the Wolfpack early. However, the Aztecs responded viciously in a 69-50 loss to Nevada at the Lawlor Events Center.
The Aztecs were led by Magoon Gwat, who had a flawless shooting display, hitting all seven of his field goal attempts to pile up 15 points along with 13 rebounds. Taj DeGourville complemented that effort by contributing 14 points, including a sizzling 4-of-5 from three-point range.
On the other side was Nevada’s leading scorer Justin McBridewho scored 13 points on efficient shooting and grabbed several boards. Kobe Sanders scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds, though his shooting struggles — 5-for-14 from the field — reflected Nevada’s offensive woes.
First half
The game started with a competitive edge as Nevada was able to take an early lead fueled by an 11-point run that put them ahead 11-5 midway through the first half. However, San Diego State responded furiously with a 13-point run of its own, turning the tide and establishing control.
By halftime, the Aztecs led 28-21, taking advantage of their defense and scoring in time. They shot 40.7 percent from the field compared to Nevada’s 30.4 percent and outscored the Wolfpack in the paint 14-10. Nevada’s cold shooting from beyond the arc (18.2 percent) and limited offensive rebounds hindered their ability to keep pace.
Second half
In the second half, San Diego State turned up the heat, shooting an impressive 55.2 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from downtown. Gwath continued his interior dominance while DeGourville hit crucial 3-pointers to extend the lead.
The Aztecs dominated the paint, scoring 22 of their second-half points there and holding a huge 21-point lead with 7:11 remaining, effectively sealing the game. Meanwhile, Nevada’s offensive struggles deepened as they made just 28.6 percent of their shots and missed several opportunities to close the gap.
The final score of 69-50 reflected San Diego State’s overall control of the game, lifting them to a 13-5 overall record and 6-3 in conference play. After tonight’s game, Nevada falls to 11-9 (3-6) in Mountain West Conference play.
Notable Stats:
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The bench battle was even with both teams scoring 27 goals off the bench
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The turnover battle was even, with both teams having ten turnovers
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Nevada lost the battle in the paint as San Diego State dominated 12-36
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Nevada shot 19.2 percent from the three-point line tonight, marking its second-worst three-point shooting percentage of the year (16.2 percent vs. Fresno State)
It follows:
Nevada will be on the road and will play the Boise State Broncos at 7:00 PM PST at the Lawlor Events Center. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Northern Nevada fans can listen to all Nevada men’s basketball games on terrestrial radio at 95.5 FM KNEV with John Ramey and Nick Fazekas. In addition, all games are available online through the Varsity Network app and are accessible from anywhere with internet access.
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