![\"UCLA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/UCLA-San-Diego-St-Basketball-10.jpg\")
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, is called for charging on San Diego State guard Terrell Gomez (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\nThe last time San Diego State hosted UCLA in men\u2019s basketball in front of fans, at what was then called the Sports Arena on Dec. 14, 1991, the Aztecs were in the midst of a 2-26 season that coach Jim Brandenburg would not survive. The team\u2019s two tallest players quit before the season. One of the top returnees shut it down after six games with a knee injury.<\/p>\n
Third-ranked UCLA won 84-64 despite missing two starters.<\/p>\n
Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n
They have met several times since in Viejas Arena, in closed-door scrimmages and in 2020 during a pandemic tournament without spectators. Friday\u2019s 7 p.m. exhibition game at Viejas, though, is fully open to the public and a crowd of about 7,000 is expected.<\/p>\n
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, is called for charging on San Diego State guard Terrell Gomez (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n
The Bruins are still ranked \u2014 No. 12 in the Associated Press preseason poll \u2014 and the Aztecs are not. But SDSU is no longer a doormat (and laughingstock) of college basketball, reaching more NCAA Tournaments over the last 15 seasons (11), ahem, than the sport\u2019s most storied program (10).<\/p>\n
That UCLA coach Mick Cronin agreed to a game in Viejas with spectators raised some eyebrows \u2014 it\u2019s been decades since the Bruins have played an out-of-conference road game in Southern California \u2014 but it makes sense on several levels, starting with the $90,000 that they\u2019ll receive. It also provides a valuable progress report against quality opposition midway through the six-week slog of preseason practice.<\/p>\n
And, perhaps more important, a progress report against quality opposition in front of a live crowd.<\/p>\n
In the past, the NCAA allowed Division I teams to face each other in October only as closed-door scrimmages, the particulars of which only sometimes leaked out. That changed in recent years with the advent of charity exhibitions. The difference this year is that the charity is the players, with proceeds going to the revenue-sharing kitties of each athletic department.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt adds the element of extra emotion when the crowd is into the game,\u201d Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said. \u201cAs much as coaches want to keep it business on the court, there is an emotional component to it when you play in front of fans. I\u2019m sure Coach Cronin is excited to see how his team will respond in what will be a difficult environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see how our team responds, whether I start seeing things outside of what I see in practice, where they don\u2019t get caught up in emotions and get out of character with how they play. That\u2019s the beauty of playing a game like this in front of fans. Not only do you get to see your team, but you get to see how they perform in an environment that we always have in Viejas.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUT-L-azhoop-0314-006.jpg\")
San Diego State\u2019s Miles Byrd celebrates after making a three pointer against Boise State during the quarterfinal of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (K.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
![\"UCLA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25082112605552.jpg\")
UCLA coach Mick Cronin yells towards his players during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Tennessee, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo\/Brynn Anderson)<\/p>\n