San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec
San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec



San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Aztec bigs prevail in tough positional matchup against the Bluejays

San Diego State’s talented frontcourt handles three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Ryan Kalkbrenner, as they upset No. 21 Creighton
by Andrew Breitenbach, Staff Writer • November 26, 2024
Categories:
Isabella Biunno
San Diego State snior forward Jared Coleman-Jones launches into the air to score against Creighton University at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

LAS VEGAS – The Aztecs big men neutralized one of the most skilled centers in the nation on Tuesday morning as they defeated Creighton (4-2) 71-53 at the Players Era Festival. SDSU improved to 3-1 on the young season. Kalkbrenner, center for the Creighton Bluejays, is a two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Last year, he joined Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning as the only players to win BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year three or more times.

SDSU rim protectors Jared-Coleman Jones, Magoon Gwath, Miles Heide and Pharoah Compton collectively held their own against one of the best players in the BIG EAST. Going into the contest, Kalkbrenner averaged 21.4 points per game and nine rebounds on the season. At the MGM Grand Garden Arena, he only managed 11 points (5-12) and five rebounds. The Bluejays 7-footer also had a season-high five blocks in the loss.

Sophomore guard Miles Byrd commented on the challenge of going up against a premier player like Kalkbrenner in the postgame press conference.

“It’s easy to, especially with good competition, it’s easy to drive out of control and off balance,” Byrd said. “But when you have a shot blocker like that, it’s easier for a team like that to fan out on a drive. So guarding the two-on-two on the ball screen, just playing off two feet and being sure of your decisions.”

Creighton suffered its first loss last Friday to Nebraska 74-63. In the defeat, Kalkbrenners’ game was exposed. The Cornhuskers held the star center to only four points in 39 minutes and created a blueprint for how to stop him. Kalkbrenner also had his NCAA-leading streak of 62 straight games with eight or more points snapped.

The Scarlet and Black have played several skilled big men this season and more are still to come. Head coach Brian Dutcher discussed the gauntlet of bigs his team will see in November.

“You look at our back-to-back games, we had to play Ike and Huff from Gonzaga and follow up with Kalkbrenner,” Dutcher said. “And we’ll play Bittle tomorrow. We’re playing as good of bigs as there are in our three-game stretch as anybody in the country.”

SDSU’s defense put on a clinic once again. They gathered eight steals, nine blocks and held the high-scoring Creighton offense to just 53 points. Through their first five games, Creighton averaged 83 points per game.

Byrd commented on the length of the team aiding in their defensive success.

“I think this year, we’re so long and athletic that it’s going to be a sure thing that we come in the game, get a lot of blocks and deflections,” Byrd said.

San Diego State will face off against Oregon on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

 

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About the Contributor
Isabella Biunno
Isabella Biunno, '24-25 Managing Editor, '23-24 Photo Editor
Isabella Biunno is the Managing Editor for The Daily Aztec. She is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada where she was a part of publications for seven years. She is a third-year Psychology major with an emphasis in Neuroscience, and she plans to go to graduate school to become a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. She loves photography, editing, and creating, and she can’t wait to continue contributing to the DA. One thing she is passionate about outside of photojournalism is being involved in the disability community. She is an instructor at SDSU’s Adaptive Fitness Clinic, president of the Pre-Occupational Therapy Student Association, and a board member for a nonprofit called Mentoring Autistic Minds. She works as an instructor at a company back home called Inclusion Fusion where she is able to work with individuals with disabilities. Although her career-related passions fall in the healthcare field, she enjoys journalism just as much. She looks forward to expanding her experience as an editor this year.