Aztecs Win Wild Overtime Thriller Against Boise State

Viejas Arena hosted a Duran Duran concert on Sunday night, and workers were scheduled to begin tear-down of the basketball court and stage setup Saturday between 9:30 and 10 p.m.

They had to wait.

San Diego State and Boise State tipped off at 7 p.m. and played well past 10 p.m.in what became an unforgettable game in the arena’s 28-year history.

The Aztecs won 110-107, but not without a dramatic sequence of events: leading by 24 in the first half, blowing the entire lead, watching a Broncos shot bounce out at the regulation buzzer, completing a six-point comeback in the final 12 seconds of the first overtime with a contested three-pointer, squandering a five-point lead in the second overtime, and finally witnessing a Broncos attempt to force a fourth overtime bounce off the backboard and rim.

BJ Davis, who experienced moments of both brilliance and struggle, secured the rebound as time expired.

The 55-minute game featured 23 ties or lead changes, 51 fouls, 63 free throws, and 151 shots.

davis led the Aztecs with 22 points, while freshman Elzie Harrington added 20.Reese Dixon-Waters contributed 16, Miles Byrd had 13, and Pharaoh Compton scored 11. Eight Aztecs scored at least seven points.

San Diego State shot 53.4% from the field compared to Boise State’s 42.3%. However, the Broncos won the rebounding battle 31-27 and made 27 of 31 free throws. Javan Buchanan, who began his career at the NAIA level, led all scorers with 29 points.

For a half,the Aztecs displayed a level of play unseen in the first two months of the season,then vanished as quickly as it appeared.

The aztecs led 50-29 at halftime, but the game was tied 79-79 at the end of regulation.