10:33 pm
December 8

San Diego State @ California

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Diego State Aztecs (5-3)

@ California Golden Bears (2-5)

 

Current odds:

San Diego State Aztecs: (-260)

California Golden Bears: (+220)

 

• The line for this game is San Diego State by 6 points.

• California coach Wyking Jones expected that his undersized team would struggle on the boards this season, and that’s certainly been the case early. After being outrebounded in each of its first seven games, the Bears look to end the streak Saturday against visiting San Diego State. Junior point guard Paris Austin averages 13.7 points and 4.6 assists to lead Cal, which has lost four of its last five games and was outrebounded 40-28 in Wednesday’s 79-60 loss to San Francisco. Freshman forward Andre Kelly had 17 points and nine rebounds in the loss while sophomore guard Darius McNeill added 16 points with four 3-pointers, but the Bears finished with as many assists as turnovers (12).

• Cal faces another uphill battle against San Diego State, which was dominated inside and turned in a disappointing effort in Wednesday’s 73-61 loss to San Diego. “They were tougher than us,” Aztecs guard Jeremy Hemsley told reporters. “We rebounded soft. I hate to use that word but that’s how we rebounded, just real soft. We can’t keep getting outrebounded because we see what the outcome is every time.”

• Picked to finish second in the Mountain West preseason poll, the Aztecs recorded an impressive 75-65 win at Illinois State last Saturday but failed to build on the momentum against San Diego. Senior point guard Devin Watson scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting against the Toreros, but the Aztecs shot just 23 percent in the second half and saw forward Jalen McDaniels and guard Jordan Schakel foul out late in the contest. The 6-10 McDaniels considered entering the NBA Draft following last year’s stellar freshman season and averages 14.3 points and a team-most eight rebounds.

• The Bears have lost four straight and five of six to San Diego State since 2005.

• Cal guard Juhwan Harris-Dyson is listed as day-to-day after reinjuring his hand in the second half of Wednesday’s game.

• San Diego State is 48-12 over its last 60 games played in December.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
San Diego State Aztecs
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