San Diego St. @ Air Force preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 30, 2019 ) Air Force 51, San Diego St. 66

Following a welcome week off in the middle of conference play, No. 4 San Diego State returns to action Saturday for a road matchup against Air Force. The Aztecs are the seventh team to open a season 23-0 since 2010-11 and figure to be heavy favorites against the Falcons, who have lost five straight and six of their last seven.

The deep San Diego State lineup features five players averaging at least 8.7 points in Mountain West play – including junior forward Matt Mitchell, who made four 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 28 points in last Saturday’s 80-68 win over Utah State. “He’s a stud,” teammate KJ Feagin told reporters. “He works just as hard as anyone on the team. When anyone on the team gets going, I’m not surprised. If any of us on the team need to do the bulk of the scoring, we’ve shown that we can do that. We have a group of guys who are all talented and are all sacrificing for the team.” Junior guard Malachi Flynn averages 16.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds to lead the Aztecs, who have made 29 3-pointers over the last two games. The Washington State transfer has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and has emerged as the leading candidate for Mountain West player of the year.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: CBS Sports Network

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (23-0, 12-0 Mountain West): Feagin scored 15 points in the win over Utah State and is shooting 9-for-17 from 3-point range over the last two games. The Aztecs’ frontcourt should receive a boost Saturday from sophomore forward Aguek Arop, who is expected to return after missing the past three games due to injury. Senior forward Yanni Wetzell is averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field for the Aztecs, who lead the Mountain West in scoring margin (plus-17.57) and boast the league’s top scoring defense at 57.7 points per game.

ABOUT AIR FORCE (9-14, 3-8): Senior forward Lavelle Scottie recorded 19 points and five rebounds and was the lone standout in Tuesday’s 88-54 loss to Nevada, which opened with a 23-9 lead and held the Falcons to 32.8 percent shooting. Center Ryan Swan had six points and six rebounds in the loss and sits three points short of 1,000 career points, but the 6-8 senior faces a tough matchup against the imposing Aztecs. Air Force is allowing 79.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting in conference play but posted impressive home wins over Utah State and Boise State last month.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. San Diego State has won 18 of the last 22 meetings against Air Force and owns a 57-24 lead in the all-time series.

2. Air Force is 4-85 all-time against ranked opponents.

3. The Aztecs have trailed at the half just three times this season.

PREDICTION: San Diego State 84, Air Force 67