San Diego State Aztecs forward Miles Heide (40). Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

San Diego State men's basketball passes first big road test of final Mountain West season

Originally posted on San Diego State Aztecs On SI
By Bernie Wilson | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 1:41 AM ET

The San Diego State Aztecs passed their toughest Mountain West road test yet, rallying from a big early deficit and holding on to beat Nevada 73-68 on Tuesday night at Lawlor Events Center.

The victory kept the Aztecs (10-4, 4-0) undefeated in their final season in the MW. The tight win came in the Aztecs’ final visit to Reno before they move into the new-look Pac-12 next season. The Wolf Pack (11-4, 3-1) are among the teams remaining behind in the MW.

Miles Byrd scored 14 points to lead five Aztecs players in double figures. Davis, Reese Dixon-Waters, Miles Heide and Taj DeGourville scored 10 points apiece.

San Diego State put down the defensive hammer big-time, holding the Wolf Pack without a field goal for the final 3:04 and just two free throws in the final 3 minutes.

The big picture

San Diego State ran its winning streak to four games while snapping the Wolf Pack’s winning streak at seven games.

The Aztecs shot 35.6% (28 of 54) while holding the Wolf Pack to 35.6% (21 of 59) while outrebounding it 38 to 31.

The Miles-to-Miles connection is working tonight! @_mbyrd21 @miles_heide

: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/KVLqrRZtIO
— San Diego State Men's Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) January 7, 2026

SDSU fell behind 23-11 in the first 11 minutes, but the Wolf Pack couldn't keep the momentum. SDSU launched a comeback that pulled it to 36-34 at halftime.

Byrd hit a 3-pointer 12 seconds into the second half for the first Aztecs’ lead of the game, 37-34.

Nevada regained the lead at 64-63 with four minutes left. Magoon Gwath and Dixon-Waters both hit buckets to give the Aztecs a 67-66 lead. Heide hit a bucket and was fouled but missed the free throw and the Aztecs led 69-66 with 32 seconds left.

Nevada missed a 3-pointer and had to foul, and Davis made two free throws to make it 71-67. Freshman Elzie Harrington closed it out with two free throws with nine seconds left.

Gwath update

Gwath didn’t start for the second straight game, the residue of a disciplinary issue that coach Brian Dutcher has explained only as: “He’s got some responsibilities he’s got to live up to. He’ll do it. I don’t have any doubt about it. But you have to do it every day in this program.”

Gwath had seven points and five rebounds in 19 minutes, while committing four fouls.