This time, Reese Dixon-Waters watched his step.
The senior forward’s game-high 20 points helped San Diego State get back in step in the Mountain West, leading the Aztecs to a 89-72 victory over Utah State at Viejas Arena.
The win ended a two-game losing streak for SDSU (19-8, 13-4 MW) and, more importantly, moved into a first-place tie with the Aggies (23-5, 13-4) with three games remaining in the regular season.
“Probably our most complete game of the season,” said SDSU coach Brian Dutcher, whose team rebounded after last week’s losses against Grand Canyon and Colorado State. “We did what we had to do. We fought through a tough stretch of two really hard losses, and we got back on the winning track. … So our fate is in our hands.”
The Aztecs played with the “urgency” junior forward Miles Byrd said was necessary to finish out the regular season right. They avenged a 71-66 loss to the Aggies along the way.
Miles Heide #40 of San Diego State and Adlan Elamin #35 of Utah State vie for the rebound during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
When SDSU played at Utah State last month, the Aztecs could have excused their five-point loss on any number of things.
Altitude: Logan’s Dee Glen Smith Spectrum is 4,783 feet, which leaves opponents fatigued and fighting for air in a game’s waning minutes.
Injuries: The absence of SDSU sophomore forward Magoon Gwath (hip) and freshman guard Elzie Harrington (lower leg) left the Aztecs without two starters.
Bad luck: Dixon-Waters was closing in on a career-high in scoring when he stepped on a teammate’s foot with 13 minutes left. He made only one more basket thereafter.
An old classic: The dog ate their game plan.
There were no excuses needed in Wednesday night’s victory at Viejas Arena, where the Aztecs breathed in the sea-level air, welcomed Gwath and Harrington back to the starting lineup and watched Dixon-Waters provide the first-half spark.
The Long Beach native scored 15 points — including 3-for-6 on 3-pointers — as SDSU built a 46-33 halftime lead. He had 10 straight points during a 2 1/2-minute stretch when the Aztecs turned a two-point lead into 29-21 advantage. And they never looked back.
“The hungry team usually wins,” Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “The tougher team usually wins. I think you would agree. You watched that with your own eyes. They were just a tougher team tonight, more prepared. …
“We had no want-to on the defensive end. And you’re not coming into Viejas, beating these guys with your offense. We’ve never beaten them with our offense. It’s always been our defense.”
Gwath had seven points in the first half, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer. The 7-footer smiled broadly as the ball kissed off the glass before going in. (Maybe because he didn’t call bank.)
Pharaoh Compton #5 of San Diego State celebrates after a dunk against Utah State during their game at Viejas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Aztecs picked up where they left off in the second half, this time with Byrd getting into the act. He was scoreless in the first half, but hit a 3-pointer in the first minute back on the floor. Moments later, he followed with a layup. That made it 51-33 on the way to a 24-point lead.
The Show was in full throat at that point, with the student section paying particular attention to Utah State’s Karson Templin. He became the game’s designated villain after a hard foul underneath the basket eight minutes into the game, followed moments later when he fell on top of Gwath (no call) after the 7-footer scored.
“Boos” followed Templin from then on, jeers when he launched an airball with six minutes remaining and taunts when Tae Simmons dunked over him on the other end.
Notable
Dixon-Waters was the only SDSU player in double figures the last time the teams met. He was joined this time by teammates Taj DeGourville (12), Simmons (11) and Pharoah Compton (11). Byrd finished with eight points and Harrington had four.
• Utah State came into the game with two of the Mountain West’s top scorers. MJ Collins, the conference’s third-leading scorer, had a quiet 18 points to lead the Aggies. Mason Falslev, seventh in the MW, was next with 14.
• The Aztecs had a 38-30 rebounding advantage in the game after being outrebounded 46-31 when the teams met in Logan.
• SDSU shot 60.9 percent (14-for-23) in the second half after shooting 50 percent (16-for-32) in the first half.
• Next up: SDSU plays at New Mexico on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT (CBS). The Aztecs won 83-79 when the teams met last month at Viejas Arena. The Lobos (21-7, 12-5 MW) lost 67-60 at Nevada on Tuesday night.