Cal Poly SLO @ San Diego St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 13, 2010 ) Cal Poly SLO 45, San Diego St. 51

One of three remaining undefeated teams in the country, No. 14 San Diego State concludes its non-conference schedule on Saturday against visiting Cal Poly. The Big West member faces an uphill battle against San Diego State, whose 12-game win streak is the fourth-longest in school history.

The Aztecs are fifth in the nation in scoring defense at 56.3 points per game and boast a deep lineup spearheaded by Washington State transfer Malachi Flynn, who leads the team in scoring (15.6), assists (5.3) and steals (1.5). Flynn recorded 16 points and eight assists in last Saturday’s 80-52 victory over Utah as the Aztecs dominated the boards and held the Utes to 31.3 percent shooting from the field. Coach Brian Dutcher’s squad also features size near the basket with a pair of 6-10 forwards in Yanni Wetzell and Nathan Mensah, who each scored 14 points in the victory. “We have a versatile group,” Dutcher told reporters. “We have a really good inside-out attack, so we’re not one dimensional. If we’re struggling from the perimeter, we go inside. If we’re struggling inside, we can go to a perimeter game.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego

ABOUT CAL POLY (2-10): Picked to finish last in the Big West preseason poll, the Mustangs have lost three straight following a four-point win over Siena on Dec. 7. Sophomore guard Junior Ballard averages a team-high 12.4 points for the Mustangs, who are scoring 62.5 points per game and figure to be overwhelmed by the more physical Aztecs near the glass. Coach John Smith’s squad scored a season-low 21 points in the first half of last Saturday’s 72-50 loss to Cal State Bakersfield, which outrebounded Cal Poly by a 42-25 margin.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (12-0): Wetzell is averaging 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 65.3 percent from the field over his last nine games for the Aztecs, who have six players averaging 7.2 points or more. Dutcher starts two juniors and two fifth-year seniors – including junior guard Jordan Schakel, who is shooting 48.3 percent from 3-point range and has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. Junior forward Matt Mitchell serves as the team’s sixth man and averages 11.1 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from beyond the arc.

TIP-INS

1. San Diego State holds a 35-16 lead in the all-time series against Cal Poly – including 23-4 at home.

2. The Aztecs have won 17 straight games and are 49-8 when leading at halftime under Dutcher.

3. San Diego State reserve F Aguek Arop (shoulder) is expected to return in early January.

PREDICTION: San Diego State 82, Cal Poly 47