Three thoughts after San Diego State’s 89-72 win against Utah State on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.
1. Reason for optimism
Maybe the sky isn’t falling.
It sure seemed like things were unraveling after back-to-back losses in which the Aztecs played uninspired basketball.
Meeting the first-place Aggies raised the possibility of a third straight loss, something that hasn’t happened at SDSU since 2018, Brian Dutcher’s first season as head coach.
The win dismissed that discussion and eliminated the possibility of a fourth straight loss — which hasn’t happened since 2005 — on Saturday at New Mexico. Instead, SDSU’s media relations department unearthed this nugget — Gonzaga is the only team in the nation that has gone longer than the Aztecs without losing three in a row, with the Bulldogs’ streak dating to January 2011.
“While everybody’s piling on after a two-game losing streak, we know what we have in this locker room,” Dutcher said after the game. “We know we’re good.”
Magoon Gwath’s buzzer-beating, banked-in 3-pointer provided a 46-33 halftime lead. SDSU came out for the second half intent, forward Pharaoh Compton said, of not letting “our foot off the gas.” They boosted the lead to as many as 24 points, with the Aztecs’ swagger returning amid demonstrative dunks and big defensive plays. Viejas was more raucous than it had been all season.
The Aztecs (19-8, 13-4 MW) moved into a first-place tie with the Aggies (23-5, 13-4) with three games remaining in the regular season. SDSU plays road games against New Mexico and Boise State before meeting UNLV at home. It will be challenging, but, as Dutcher pointed out, the Aztecs are in control of their destiny.
“Now we have to seize the day,” Dutcher said, “and find a way to win three more, and win a Mountain West title.”
Can one win turn everything around? Maybe. The Aztecs still need to win the conference tournament to guarantee themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but this was an encouraging step forward after a couple of missteps.
Tae Simmons #8 of San Diego State celebrates during the Aztecs’ game against Utah State at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
2. Bringing the energy
Freshman Tae Simmons let his frustrations get the best of him last week against Colorado State, when he was slapped with a technical foul after shouting at officials late in the loss.
Simmons channeled his energy more constructively against Utah State.
“What an emotional guy he is, igniting the crowd, getting dunks, making every play,” Dutcher said.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Simi Valley is a tenacious rebounder on both ends of the floor. Strong drives to the hoop against the Aggies ended with a couple big dunks. After one of them, Simmons turned to The Show, flexed and then lifted both arms toward the rafters, encouraging the students to turn the volume knob to 11. They obliged. By game’s end, Simmons had turned to other areas of the arena and asked those gathered to raise it up a few octaves. They did as instructed as well.
“Tae’s somebody that, he’s a funny guy,” teammate Reese Dixon-Waters said. “We troll each other a lot, but he brings energy, plays hard, and that’s what we needed tonight. He did a really good job.”
Simmons’ performance went beyond the 11 points and four rebounds he provided in 14 minutes off the bench.
It was infectious.
Karson Templin #22 of Utah State looks on from the bench during the Aggies’ game against San Diego State at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
3. Mercy is for the weak
Utah State junior forward Karson Templin bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Lawrence, the antagonist from “The Karate Kid” — right down to the headband that struggles to contain Templin’s flowing blonde hair.
“I think it’s hilarious,” Templin told Salt Lake City’s Deseret News last season. “I love that people say that. I think it’s a cool kind of thing to be compared to…. And I like it because I like to play physical, too.”
Templin plays with the reckless abandon that is endearing to home fans, and he had a team-high 18 points off the bench when the Aggies beat the Aztecs last month.
On the road, Templin’s style can quickly make him public enemy No. 1. He drew some attention eight minutes into the game, when was called for an offensive foul against SDSU guard BJ Davis. Templin then mixed it up a little bit with SDSU’s Taj DeGourville and Pharaoh Compton under the basket after the whistle.
Templin, who had eight points and three rebounds, mouth an expletive to no one in particular as he walked down to the other side of the court.
Moments later, when Gwath got inside for a layup, Templin was late sliding over. His momentum carried him into Gwath, they got tangled and fell to together to the floor.
It was inadvertent and there was no call. But it happened right in front of The Show, and the students let Templin have it the rest of the game.
They booed him at every opportunity, chanted his name with an expletive, jeered him when he airballed a 3-point attempt and taunted him when Simmons dunked over him in the closing minutes.
Just remember…. pic.twitter.com/wJb45bcvF4
— Johnny Lawrence (@Cobra_Kai_INC) April 15, 2014
The “Karate Kids” characters returned to the screen a few years ago in the series “Cobra Kai,” with protagonist Daniel LaRusso forging a friendship with Johnny Lawrence. Don’t expect life to imitate art when Utah State and SDSU share a Las Vegas arena next month at the Mountain West tournament.
One can only imagine what SDSU’s students have in store for Templin when they take The Show on the road.