San José, Calif. - Fresh off its best defensive performance of the season and a victory in its Mountain West opener, San José State returns to action when it plays host to San Diego State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Off to their best start in 15 years, the Spartans were led by sophomore Ayzhiana Basallo in the road victory. The point guard is averaging 22.9 points per game and ranks first in all of Division I in total points and made free throws.
The meeting between SJSU and the Aztecs will be the 32nd all-time between the two programs. San José State emerged victorious in the last matchup, earning an 84-76 win late last season.
This year's San Diego State team enters the week with a record of 4-5 and is 1-0 in conference play after downing Colorado State on Wednesday night. Sophomore Mallory Adams has impressed for the Aztecs, leading the team with an average of 12.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Adams dropped a season-high 17 points in a game against California last month.
A win on Saturday would mark SJSU's fifth victory in its last six conference home openers and give the program its first 2-0 start to league play since the 2015-16 campaign.
Saturday's contest will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with Daniel Barrera on the call. Fans can also follow the Spartans on social media all season long by following @SanJoseStateWBB on Twitter or @sjswbb on Instagram.
STORYLINES
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE
Saturday's meeting will also serve as the 10th game of the season for San Diego State. The team currently owns a 4-5 record and is 1-0 in Mountain West play. Coming off a 14-18 season a year ago that featured a trip to the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, the Aztecs have tallied wins over Towson, Westcliff, Cal State Fullerton and Colorado State thus far on the 2019-20 campaign. Their most recent game marked their conference opener, a 59-49 victory over the Rams.
Sophomore Mallory Adams has impressed for San Diego State, leading the team with an average of 12.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Adams dropped a season-high 17 points against California last month.
The Aztecs will return home after their quick trip to San José, facing crosstown rival San Diego on Wednesday. This will be the only game between SJSU and SDSU this season, marking the first year with just one meeting since the 2014-15 campaign.
SJSU VS. THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Overall, San José State is 112-220 against the current make up of schools in the Mountain West. The Spartans enter having won five of their last seven conference games, most recently winning at Utah State on Wednesday.
Sophomore Ayzhiana Basallo led her team in the 76-61 victory in Logan, tallying 20 points in the winning effort. After Saturday's tilt, San José State next Mountain West game will come on New Year's Day at New Mexico.
AYZHIANA'S AWARDS
Point guard Ayzhiana Basallo had quite the month of November. The sophomore made some school history on Nov. 25 when she was named the Mountain West Player of the Week for a second straight week, the first-ever time a Spartan has received the honor in consecutive weeks. In addition to the award from the conference office, Basallo was named the league's Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on Nov. 25.
EARLY START TO CONFERENCE PLAY
Wednesday's meeting with Utah State marked the program's earliest start to league play since joining the Mountain West. Saturday's game against San Diego State will mark its final league game before stepping back into non-conference play for three additional contests.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Utah State's 21 first half points on Wednesday marked the lowest for a San José State opponent this season and the fewest allowed by the Spartans in a road game since January 30, 2016 (19 at Air Force). SJSU was strong from the outset on both ends of the floor in its conference opener, taking a 14-0 lead in Logan before the home team got on the scoreboard.
ASSIST U
San José State is ranked No. 6 nationally with 160 assists in nine games. Sophomore Ayzhiana Basallo is slotted fourth in the country in that category, dishing out a total of 55 assists thus far.
Basallo isn't the only member of the Spartan backcourt that has distributed the ball at a high rate. Guards Danae Marquez (3.3 APG) and Raziya Potter (2.9 APG) are following closely behind their running mate.
NOT BAD FOR STARTERS
The Spartans have dominated in their recent conference home openers, winning four of their last five and six of eight dating back to the 2011-12 campaign. Their last win in a Mountain West lid-lifter at home came against Utah State on Dec. 28, 2017, a 79-66 victory over the Aggies at The Event Center.
IT'S A (GOOD) START
San José State's 6-3 record marks the program's best mark through nine games since the 2004-05 campaign. That team also started 6-3 en route to an 18-12 season.
ROAD WARRIORS (OR SPARTANS)
San José State's 76-61 victory at Utah State on Wednesday marked the team's second road win of the season. This is the earliest the program has tallied multiple road victories since the 2004-05 campaign, when it knocked off UC Irvine, San Francisco and New Mexico State all away from home within the team's first seven games.
THREE'S COMPANY
San José State finished its victory over Eastern Washington last month shooting 61 percent from three-point range (14-of-23). The mark set a single-game record for three-point percentage in the Jamie Craighead era at SJSU.
20 on 22's 20th
Point guard Danae Marquez celebrated her 20th birthday in fine fashion last month, dropping 20 points to lead all scorers en route to her team's 84-66 victory over Eastern Washington. Not just a scoring threat, Marquez peppered the stat-sheet with three assists and one steal in the win.
THEY'RE FREE FOR A REASON
Point guard Ayzhiana Basallo ranks first (as in, no one is better) in all of Division I in made free throws. The sophomore's 65 makes on 71 attempts leads the nation, while San José State as a whole is ranked No. 6 nationally in made free throws with 144.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The team's pair of Division I transfers - Ayzhiana Basallo and Tyra Whitehead - are off to an explosive start to the season. The duo have combined for five double-doubles on the year, with Whitehead's three ranking No. 37 nationally and second in the Mountain West.
CALL IT A COMEBACK
San José State rallied from as many as 14 points down at one point before emerging for its 95-88 victory over Buffalo last month. The team made huge second half surges in its back-to-back wins over both the Bulls and San Diego, outscoring its opponents 53-25 in the third quarter alone.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEDIA INFORMATION
For any information concerning Mountain West basketball, contact Melissa Katz, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications. Mountain West information is also available online at www.themw.com.