SAN DIEGO — San Diego State (2-0) made quick work of Occidental College on Tuesday night, posting a dominant 100-49 victory at Viejas Arena. The win marked their 12th consecutive triumph over the Tigers, tying for the program’s third-longest active win streak.

SDSU exploded out of the gates, connecting on their first six shots — including three three-pointers — and sprinting to an 18-0 lead before Occidental made its first field goal nearly five minutes into the game. The Aztecs would go on to lead 25-2 at the first media timeout and extended their lead to 54-17 at halftime, their largest halftime advantage since 2013. They never looked back, pushing their lead to as much as 61 points in the second half.

The Aztecs were led by a trio of players, all scoring a game-high 16 points: freshman forward Magoon Gwath, senior Wayne McKinney III, and sophomore BJ Davis. Gwath added a career-high four blocks, marking the most by an SDSU freshman since at least 1996-97. Davis also contributed a career-best five steals, while McKinney knocked down four three-pointers and had three assists.

Taj DeGourville turned in a well-rounded performance with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Nick Boyd added 10 points. SDSU’s bench was also active, accounting for 40 points, with several players contributing key minutes.

San Diego State forward Miles Heide attempts to guard Tigers forward Atticus Boba at Viejas Arena.

“Everyone contributed tonight, and that’s what you want to see early in the season,” said SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher. “We got off to a hot start, and that set the tone. It builds confidence, especially for guys who have been struggling with their shot.”

SDSU’s offensive fireworks were on display all night, as they hit 18 three-pointers — just one shy of their program record of 19 set against Occidental last season. The Aztecs shot 45% from beyond the arc and finished the game with 22 assists, spreading the ball well and sharing the wealth offensively.

Defensively, SDSU stifled the Tigers at every turn. The Aztecs forced 21 Occidental turnovers, converting them into 35 points off turnovers. SDSU also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Tigers 38-16 in that category, and swatted away eight shots while holding Occidental to just 30.8% shooting from the field.

San Diego State forward Magoon Gwath shoots a free throw after being fouled on a play against the Occidental Tigers at Viejas Arena.

For Occidental, Nasir Luna scored 16 points to tie the game-high, while Ethan Hanning added 12. However, the Tigers struggled to keep pace with the Aztecs’ relentless defense and fast-paced offense.

The 51-point victory was the largest margin for SDSU since a 52-point win over San Diego Christian in 2013 and was one of the biggest in program history. With the win, the Aztecs move into their next challenge — a home matchup with No. 4 Gonzaga on Monday, Nov. 18, at Viejas Arena.

“We have to take this confidence and turn it into consistency,” said McKinney. “We have a big test next week, but we’re ready for it.”

Photo by Adam Dennison