Written by Joaquin Serrato & Photo by Dakota Gray

2025-26 Mountain West Conference play began at Viejas Arena on Wednesday night as the Aztecs hosted a young and struggling Air Force side. 

Early on, the Aztecs were cold, shooting 0-for-7 from the field. Miles Byrd, whose scoring production has decreased from his 2024-25 breakout season, began the night attempting to slash the bucket. All three physical layup attempts were unsuccessful. 

BJ Davis, who has been an impactful transfer off the bench, averaging 12.8 PPG, ended a 6-0 Air Force run with a dunk that woke up an anxious Viejas Arena. 

“No I didn’t have it in mind at all, I didn’t even want to dunk it really,” Davis said postgame in a press conference. This remark by Davis was followed up by a groan and a smile from Miles Heide. 

“Can I say something, he has the highest vert[itcal jump] on the team so I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Heide said, leading to more laughs amongst the media. 

Around nine minutes and change left to play in the first half, another bench piece in Pharoh Compton went coast to coast, showcasing a block followed by a transition jam. 

“It’s fun, it gives you energy, when he gets those dunks in transition and it’s fun to play with. When you have Pharaoh running with you in transition and you hit him and you know he’s about to get on the rim, it’s fun,” Davis said.

The 6-0 Falcons run was responded by a 14-2 run by the Aztecs, improving as the shooting improved from threes’ by Jeremiah Oden, Taj DeGourville, and Sean Newman Jr. 

Bird made an impressive steal, but it was only half the job, as he could not put away an uncontested dunk on the other end, as Viejas was ready to rock. 

The expectations for SDSU Basketball amongst students, alumni and media are much higher compared to any other sport. 

The double-digit run was not enough to keep the anxiety low heading into halftime as the score was 33-30, Aztecs. 

Mind you, Air Force is a program in a rebuilding year, with no seniors on its squad and the worst record in the conference. 

So, how did Coach Brian Dutcher’s side respond coming out of the half? 

“I told them at halftime to ‘just keep your energy up, keep your enthusiasm high, it’s basketball. Everybody wants to play great and other teams play well too. So don’t get discouraged because we’re only up by three,’ Dutcher said. 

Coming out of half, a very odd and unusual sequence of Byrd diving into the courtside seats into fans for a loose ball. It ended up with Magoon Gwath, who dished it out to Miles Heide. 

Heide, not known for a three-point shot as he entered the night with only two made out of 12 attempts in his entire career, made his third. “MILES HEIDE” chants by The Show SDSU followed the shot. 

“I have the confidence to shoot it, so if I’m open, I’m going to shoot it. My teammates have told me to let it go, so I am going to keep doing it if I’m open,” Heide said. 

Including Heide’s three, the Aztecs came out of the locker room shooting six for six from the field, displaying a 52-39 lead on the scoreboard with around 12 minutes left in the second half. 

The fifth of the sixth made a dazzling dime by BJ Davis, who found Newman Jr. cutting down low to the rim for the layup. 

Despite only dunking for a lone two points in the first half, Davis went on a heater. He was a headache for the Falcons’ defense as he netted 14 points in his first shift of the second half, while finishing the night with 19. 

“That’s the role I’ve been playing this year, [I’ve] just embraced it. Just trying to provide that spark of energy. To come in and guard, get my teammates involved and create my own shot as well,” Davis said. 

DeGourville entered the night with a struggling shot, shooting 25 percent on the season, and cashed back-to-back three pointers. 

Not only did the scoring heat up but so did the defense as the Aztecs forced eight Air Force turnovers. 

With about three minutes left to play, the fans were done as they headed for the exits, but Davis was not quite done, adding another trey. 

Compton was not done as he dunked twice in the dwindling minutes, making it 79-55. 

With a minute left, SDSU’s reserves checked in, wrapping the conference opener with a win 81-58. 

It was not a night for experienced players like Bird and Reese Dixon-Waters. However, this depth and production off the bench has to excite Aztec faithful heading into not only conference play, but facing the No. 1 team in the nation, Arizona.