At midseason, new-look Aztecs are winning in old ways
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Pharaoh Compton, BJ Davis, Miles Byrd and Magoon Gwath against Colorado State. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
The Aztecs are sitting at 11-4 midway through a 2025 college basketball season that's tracking toward another NCAA Tournament run.
Why it matters: SDSU is one of the West Coast's marquee basketball programs and is preparing to leave the Mountain West for a reconstituted Pac-12 in 2026.
Driving the news: The Aztecs beat Colorado State at Viejas Arena Tuesday night to bring their conference record to 4-2 after a disappointing blowout loss at New Mexico on Saturday.
- Miles Byrd put up 25 points with seven steals and six rebounds Tuesday, a standout game during a breakout season that has seen him emerge as a genuine NBA prospect.
State of play: SDSU climbed as high as 20th in the national polls last month before falling out of the rankings after blowing a late lead in a loss to Utah State, who leads the Mountain West.
- The Aztecs still hold a formidable resume with most of their conference schedule ahead, including notable wins over expected tournament teams Houston and Creighton.
- ESPN pegs them as a nine seed in March, and the respected Ken Pom ratings formula regards them as the 35th best team in the county.
Between the lines: SDSU under Head Coach Brian Dutcher, as they did under his legendary predecessor Steve Fischer, win with a consistent year-to-year identity.
- The names and faces change, play tenacious defense, win on the boards and bring a heavy dose of athletes who can compete against top programs that overlooked them.
Zoom in: Byrd is joined in the backcourt by sophomore BJ Davis and senior Nick Boyd, the team's other top scorers.
- Top rebounder Jared Coleman-Jones, seven footer Magoon Gwath and feisty freshman Pharaoh Compton bring characteristic length, athleticism and sound, swarming defense.
- Kimo Ferrari, a local kid and senior transfer from Brown, has become a fan favorite, with The Show erupting in cheers when the 6'0", 178 pound guard checks in.
What's next: UNLV comes to Viejas Arena Saturday, before the Aztecs prepare for road contests against Air Force and Nevada next week.