A big first-half deficit against a Pac-12 opponent at Viejas Arena. A rousing comeback. A one-possession game in the final minutes. A close loss.
Sound familiar?
That’s how San Diego State’s closed-door preseason scrimmage went against UCLA last year at Viejas Arena, and that’s how its closed-door preseason scrimmage went Saturday in a 72-68 loss to Arizona State.
It certainly worked out last year, propelling the Aztecs to a 32-win season, Mountain West title and a spot in the national championship game.
“It was a perfect scrimmage,” coach Brian Dutcher said on Saturday. “Obviously, you don’t play perfect, but it showed us what we need to learn and gave us stuff to work on instead of a game where you’re winning by 20 or 30 and you learn nothing.
“There were some good lessons learned. We made good adjustments. And the kids kept competing at a high, high level. We had a chance to win, but that was not the purpose of it. It was to get a dress rehearsal and see where we’re at.”
Dutcher likes to say his team gets better over the course of the season, and it took that to an extreme over the course of a 40-minute scrimmage at 12,414-seat Viejas Arena with referees, shot clocks and statisticians but no fans, boosters, media, cheerleaders or band.
A year ago, SDSU trailed UCLA 18-2. This year: 40-20 at the half.
It wasn’t like Arizona State was shooting lights out, either. The Sun Devils hit 41.9 percent of their first-half shots.
The Aztecs, playing without injured guard Darrion Trammell, were even worse: 23.5 percent, including 4 of 22 behind the 3-point arc while attempting no free throws.
The second half was better for the hosts: 54.5 percent shooting, 4 of 10 on 3s and 8 of 11 from the line.
The Aztecs tied it with five minutes left and led inside two minutes to go before a late surge by the Sun Devils, who won a game in the NCAA Tournament last season and are picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12.
“We were way more aggressive defensively and more aggressive offensively getting to the basket in the second half,” Dutcher said. “But at the end of the day, we couldn’t turn our aggression down with the game on the line and we fouled them too much. You can’t foul them and put them on the line when they’re struggling to score.
“It’s OK. I wanted them aggressive. But those are the lessons that are better learned now than to cost yourself a (regular-season) game.”
Without the 5-foot-10 Trammell, sidelined the past two weeks with left shoulder irritation, Dutcher went big and started 6-10 freshman Miles Heide alongside Jaedon LeDee, Lamont Butler, Micah Parrish and USC transfer Reese Waters. SDSU used nine players, and ASU 10.
Butler sat out most of SDSU’s first intrasquad scrimmage two weeks ago with a sore ankle but played 33 minutes Saturday, finishing with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. LeDee had 19 points, 13 rebounds and two steals. Those two shot a combined 16 of 27 (59.3 percent). Everyone else was 10 of 40.
The Aztecs won the battle of the boards and had one fewer turnover, but ASU got to the line — usually an SDSU staple — 27 times to 11. The Sun Devils also blocked four shots to one by the Aztecs.
Kamari Lands led ASU with 18 points and four 3-pointers. Frankie Collins had 15 and Jamiya Neal 14.
“I liked when we did play the way we’re supposed to defensively, aggressive and tough, that’s when we came back,” Dutcher said. “We’re a defense-first program, and our defense in the second half was pretty good, way better than the first half.
“Offensively, it’s not a surprise. We shot a ton of 3s (8 of 32). I don’t micromanage offense. Some of them were open but weren’t on balance, and those are the ones we have to not take. You might be open, but if you’re not on balance it doesn’t matter.”
The team has Sunday off and will participate in the annual ALS Walk at Mission Bay to honor assistant Mark Fisher. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk at 10 at De Anza Cove. For more information, go to web.alsa.org/walksandiego.
Practice resumes Monday for the final two-week push to the Nov. 6 opener against Cal State Fullerton at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs host Division II Cal State San Marcos in an Oct. 30 exhibition.
