AZTECS’ GAME VS. UNLV RESCHEDULED
When the Mountain West rescheduled men’s basketball games for Boise State and had the Broncos playing three times in five days this week, it was probably only a matter of time before San Diego State was doing the same.
And now it will be. The conference announced Sunday that the Aztecs will slot the missed home game against UNLV on Jan. 24, between Boise State at Viejas Arena two days before and at Utah State two days after. Three games, five days.
“Like an NBA schedule,” a message to Aztecs players from staff said of the adjusted schedule.
The Aztecs (10-3, 2-0) have missed five conference games this month, first after COVID-19 outbreaks on their opponents and then within their own program. They were supposed to host UNLV last Tuesday. Both had an open date Jan. 24, as did CBS Sports Network, and the conference quickly made the change.
Tipoff will be 6 p.m. That leaves four more postponed games: home against Fresno State and Nevada, away against Wyoming and New Mexico. The Aztecs now have an open date on March 1 after moving forward their home game against Colorado State, but the other four are all scheduled to play that day or the next.
The Aztecs had most of the roster quarantining from COVID-19 last week. The team had Sunday off, and most players are expected back at practice today or Tuesday. University protocols allow them to
return to practice six days after testing positive but not play a game until at least 10.
That wiped out a road game at New Mexico and home game against the Rebels. Saturday’s home date against Boise State, then, should be their first game back. And with nearly the entire roster having contracted the virus, no further stoppages are expected for the remainder of the season.
Sunday’s games
No. 14 Villanova 82, Butler 42: Collin Gillespie hit five 3pointers and scored 17 points, and Justin Moore scored 15 points to lead the host Wildcats (13-4, 6-1 Big East) to their sixth straight win, over the Bulldogs (9-7, 2-3).
No. 16 Ohio State 61, Penn State 56: E.J. Liddell scored 19 points and the Buckeyes defeated the visiting Nittany Lions.
Ohio State (11-4, 5-2 Big Ten) won despite shooting just 38.6 percent overall and going the final 5:07 without a basket. The Nittany Lions (8-7, 3-4) trimmed multiple 10-point deficits in the second half and pulled within four with seven seconds to go.
Saturday’s late results No. 3 UCLA 81, Oregon State 65:
Johnny Juzang scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half when the host Bruins (11-2, 3-1 Pac-12) pulled away to beat the Beavers (3-13, 1-5). Jaylen Clark added 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in his first career start for the Bruins. The sophomore replaced Jaime Jaquez Jr., who sat out with a left ankle injury.
Oregon 79, No. 5 USC 69:
Will Richardson scored 28 points as the Ducks (11-6, 4-2 Pac-12) built a big lead over the Trojans (14-2, 4-2) and were never threatened, becoming the first team to sweep a Pac-12 road trip over two teams ranked in AP top 10 after beating UCLA on Thursday. USC came into the game fourth nationally in field goal defense, holding opponents to 36.6 percent shooting. Yet the Ducks went 29 of 58 (50 percent) from the f loor. Boogie Ellis (Mission Bay) and Isaiah Mobley led the Trojans with 18 points apiece. USC has dropped two of its last three after opening the season with 13 straight wins.
BYU 71, San Francisco 69:
Alex Barcello scored 18 points to lead the visiting Cougars (15-4, 3-1 West Coast Conference) past the Dons (15-3, 2-1).