SAN DIEGO — San Diego State (9-3) took advantage of the undersized Air Force Falcons (9-4) in their Mountain West opener. The Aztecs came into the game 7-0 at Viejas Arena on the season. The Aztecs would hold the Falcons to just 55 points in a wire-to-wire victory. 

The offense got going early for the Aztecs behind Matt Bradley’s season-high 27 points on an efficient 9-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 from behind the 3-point line. The Aztecs as a team shot 11-for-23 from the arc. Matt Bradley looked as impressive as ever seen in an Aztec uniform in a breakout game. His ability to knock down the 3 today allowed him to attack the rim easier as well.

Nathan Mensah controlled the glass with 7 rebounds on the game to go along with 2 blocks. His fellow big man Keshad Johnson took care of the scoring inside and had a solid all-around game with 9 points and 5 rebounds.

The Aztecs would start the game on a 15-2 run and keep the lead throughout the game. Air Force only shot 2-for-9 from 3 in the first half and 9-for-24 from the field. The defense played a significant role in the victory as they held Air Force’s leading scorer, Jake Heidbreder, to his season low of 6 points. The Aztec game plan was to not let Heidbreder get going. They did a nice job of not letting happen and forced Heidbreder into 3 turnovers and 15 total Air Force turnovers for the game.

Air Force shot 42.9% from the field and were held to only 8-for-22 from 3.

The Falcons’ Jeffrey Mills was the only scorer in double figures in the game. No one was able to get going for the Falcons as the Aztecs were able to match up well with the very undersized Air Force team. No player in their starting lineup was over 6-foot-5. This allowed San Diego State to dominate the paint. The Aztecs’ 5-foot-10 point guard Darrion Trammell even got in on the action recording his first 2 blocks on the season.

The Aztecs will face off in a nationally televised game on CBS on Dec. 31 against UNLV.