Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tucker Anderson made a 3-point shot from the right wing with 6.8 seconds left and Utah State stunned No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 on Saturday after rallying from an 18-point deficit.

SDSU’s Wayne McKinney III missed a 3-pointer with two seconds left, and the Aggies’ reserves rushed to the other end of the court to swarm Anderson. The winning shot came after SDSU’s BJ Davis missed a 3-pointer.

Ian Martinez scored 17 points, Mason Falslev 16 and Anderson 14 for Utah State (12-1, 2-0 Mountain West).

Miles Byrd and Nick Boyd scored 14 apiece for SDSU (8-3, 1-1), which went cold from the field in the second half and saw its four-game winning streak end.

The Aggies, who trailed 40-22 late in the first half, went up 56-55 on Falslev’s layup on an inbounds play with 6:16 left for their first lead. But they didn’t score again for more than four minutes as SDSU took a 65-58 lead. Martinez converted a 3-point play and Anderson hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left to pull to 65-64.

Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah State forward Tucker Anderson (2) celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Boyd made the first of two free throws and Jared Coleman-Jones rebounded before Davis’ missed 3.

Takeaways

Utah State: The Aggies showed some mettle in the middle game of a three-game trip. They trailed 43-32 at halftime but used an 8-0 run early in the second half to get back into it.

San Diego State: The Aztecs played their trademark defense early on, but the Aggies figured it out early in the second half.

Key moment

Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 | iNFOnews.ca
UC San Diego guard Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (12) dribbles the ball as Utah State forward Tucker Anderson defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP)

The winning shot by Anderson.

Key stat

SDSU shot just 25.9% (7 of 27) in the second half and 38.5% (20 of 52) overall.

Up next

Utah State is at Nevada on Tuesday night, while San Diego State is at Boise State next Saturday.

Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 | iNFOnews.ca
San Diego State guard Nick Boyd (2) fights for the ball with Utah State center Isaac Johnson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 | iNFOnews.ca
San Diego State guard Nick Boyd (2) tries to shoot over Utah State center Aubin Gateretse (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Anderson hits 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left to lead Utah State past No. 20 San Diego State 67-66 | iNFOnews.ca
Utah State guard Deyton Albury (13) shoots between San Diego State guard San Diego State forward Jared Coleman-Jones (31) and guard Nick Boyd (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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