SAN DIEGO - Four Aztecs scored in double figures highlighted by Jaedon LeDee's 17 points as San Diego State cruised by Saint Katherine 91-57 on Tuesday evening at Viejas Arena.
Reese Waters dropped 15 points and Jay Pal and Darrion Trammell each scored 10 to join him in double figures.
Saint Katherine was led by Maur Tablada's 23 points and Xavier Cooper's 13 points.
True to their name, the Firebirds (9-3) started out hot, making their first four attempts, including a trio of 3-pointers, to take an 11-7 lead. Their shots went cold as they finished the first half 4-of-21. The Aztecs (9-2) led by 30 at halftime, the 13th time that they have accomplished the feat since 1996-97, and coasted the rest of the way.
"It was a good game for us as a tune-up game coming out of finals," Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Dutcher said after the win. "We knew Saint Katherine was 9-2 and they are playing NAIA competition, but they were playing well. They started the game, and you thought they would make every shot they took. I think they hit their first four threes. We got into a rhythm, turned our defense up, made it harder for them to score, and then found a way to build a lead, and a big part of that was rebounding. We finally dominated the glass."
Miles Heide and Demarshay Johnson Jr. each set a career-high with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
When asked about his large role as a freshman, Heide said "The coaches have done a lot to preach to me it takes patience and time. They've given me that role of going out there and being an energy guy, getting offensive boards, and doing what I can on the defensive glass. It's just time and patience. My role will grow even bigger eventually, but I just try to do what I can on the court right now."
San Diego State's younger players earned more experience with Cade Alger scoring his first points of the season and BJ Davis and Cam Lawin both making their first collegiate baskets.
The Aztecs outshot Saint Katherine from the field: 45.8 percent (33-72) to 32.8 percent (19-58). The Firebirds shot better from deep: 35.7 percent (10-28) to 30.4 percent (7-23) and from the line: 100 percent (9-9) to 90 percent (18-20). SDSU led in most other fascets of the game: 42-4 in bench points, 46-12 in the paint, 33-2 off turnovers and 19-2 on second chance points. San Diego State had twice as many rebounds as Saint Katherine 50 (19 offensive, 31 defensive) to 25 (five offensive, 20 defensive).
San Diego State does not have a lot of time to prepare for its next game with a home matchup against the Stanford Cardinal set for 6 p.m. on Thursday night at Viejas Arena. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and San Diego Sports 760.
Aztecs Cruise to 34-Point Victory Over Saint Katherine
