San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher undoubtedly hopes his team will maintain its shooting touch when it faces Baylor on Wednesday night in a Players Era men’s tournament consolation game in Las Vegas.
San Diego State (3-2) made 39 of 58 shots (67.2%) from the field Tuesday in a 97-80 tournament victory over Oregon. The Aztecs were 11 of 23 (47.8%) from 3-point range and 8 of 9 (88.9%) from the free-throw line.
Reese Dixon-Waters scored 22 points and was one of four San Diego State players who scored in double figures. The victory came one night after No. 7 Michigan beat San Diego State 94-54.
“We definitely had a sense of urgency,” Dixon-Waters said. “Playing harder with more grit, and everybody came to play today. I think we played with a lot of confidence. We’re all good players. Dutch believes in us, and we believe in ourselves.”
BJ Davis (21), Magoon Gwath (13) and Elzie Harrington (12) are the other San Diego State players who scored in double figures in the victory.
Baylor (4-1) will look to avoid back-to-back losses. After beating Creighton 81-74 on Monday, the Bears fell 96-81 to No. 14 St. John’s on Tuesday.
Baylor shot a season-low 37.2% (29 of 78) from the field. The Bears hadn’t shot below 43.1% in any of their first four games.
Baylor’s Cameron Carr led all scorers with 27 points. It was his third straight game with at least 20 points.
“He’s a lot of fun to coach, but we want to win,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said following the loss.
Baylor received 12 points and 12 rebounds from Michael Rataj in the defeat. Tounde Yessoufou finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Bears had to use a shortened rotation Tuesday because of a foot injury to fifth-year guard JJ White, who spent the game at the end of the bench wearing a boot. Baylor also was without junior center Juslin Bodo Bodo (arm) and freshman forward Maikcol Perez (ACL).
Only seven players saw action for Baylor.
