On Saturday, San Diego”s college basketball landscape showcased notable performances as the women”s teams from San Diego State and UC San Diego upheld their perfect records in conference play, while USD celebrated a hard-fought win.
The San Diego State Aztecs women”s team staged a remarkable comeback against Utah State, erasing an 11-point deficit to clinch a 73-72 victory. With only four seconds remaining, Naomi Panganiban delivered a crucial 15-foot jumper, rounding off her season-high 23 points. This win marked the Aztecs” eighth consecutive triumph, elevating their record to 12-3 overall and 6-0 in the Mountain West Conference.
In a commanding display, UC San Diego”s women”s team overcame UC Riverside with a decisive 70-54 victory at LionTree Arena. Erin Condron stood out with a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while teammate Dominique Maxie contributed 17 points. The Tritons have now extended their winning streak to four games.
Panganiban”s performance was instrumental in the Aztecs” victory, as she scored 11 of her points in the pivotal fourth quarter. The team outscored Utah State 26-16 in this final period, having faced a challenging third quarter where they were outscored 24-11.
As for UC San Diego, they took control of the game with Condron”s jumper, leading to a significant 22-7 run. The Tritons dominated in the paint, scoring 50 of their points from inside, and their defense held UCR to a mere 32.3 percent shooting.
On the men”s side, the Tritons defeated UC Riverside 69-66, with Bol Dengdit leading the charge with 17 points, supported by Leo Beath and Tom Beattie, each contributing 11 points. Beattie also recorded 11 rebounds, showcasing the team”s resilience.
Meanwhile, USD”s men”s team faced a setback against Pacific, losing 77-70 despite holding a 60-47 lead at one point. Ty-Laur Johnson was the standout player for USD, scoring 19 points alongside seven rebounds and seven assists, though the team struggled with rebounding overall.
The competitive spirit of San Diego”s college basketball teams continues to capture the attention of local fans, with the women”s teams setting high standards and the men”s teams pushing to improve in their respective conferences.
