San Diego St. wins MW/MVC Challenge at Illinois St. 75-65
NORMAL, Ill. -- Devin Watson pumped in 23 points and San Diego State won its first true road game of the season, knocking off Illinois State, 75-65 in the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge on Saturday afternoon.
The Aztecs (5-2) played three of their first six games on neutral sites.
Wilson hit a 3 to give San Diego State a quick, 8-3 lead and the Aztecs pushed it to 16-7 after Jalen McDaniels dunked with 12:45 remaining in the half. The Redbirds got within three early in the second half, but Wilson answered with a jumper and McDaniels dunked again and the Aztecs maintained their distance the rest of the way.
McDaniels finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds for San Diego State (5-2).
Phil Fayne and Malik Yarbrough each added 16 points and Yarbrough grabbed 13 boards for Illinois State (6-3), which suffered its first loss in five home games.
Former San Diego State coach Steve Fisher travelled with the team. The two-time national Coach of the Year earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Illinois State and he was 2-0 coaching against his alma mater.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Randy Heimerman
- Tom O'Neill
- Eric Curry
2023-24 Mountain West Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Utah State | 14-4 | - | 28-7 |
Nevada | 13-5 | 1 | 26-8 |
Boise State | 13-5 | 1 | 22-11 |
UNLV | 12-6 | 2 | 21-13 |
San Diego State | 11-7 | 3 | 26-11 |
New Mexico | 10-8 | 4 | 26-10 |
Colorado State | 10-8 | 4 | 25-11 |
Wyoming | 8-10 | 6 | 15-17 |
Fresno State | 4-14 | 10 | 12-21 |
Air Force | 2-16 | 12 | 9-22 |
San José State | 2-16 | 12 | 9-23 |
2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Indiana State | 17-3 | - | 32-7 |
Drake | 16-4 | 1 | 28-7 |
Bradley | 13-7 | 4 | 23-12 |
Belmont | 12-8 | 5 | 20-13 |
Northern Iowa | 12-8 | 5 | 19-14 |
Southern Illinois | 11-9 | 6 | 19-13 |
Illinois State | 9-11 | 8 | 15-17 |
Murray State | 9-11 | 8 | 12-20 |
Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 17-16 |
Evansville | 6-14 | 11 | 17-18 |
UIC | 4-16 | 13 | 12-21 |
Valparaiso | 3-17 | 14 | 7-25 |