San Diego Christian @ San Diego St. preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2017 ) San Diego Christian 52, San Diego St. 91

One of four remaining undefeated teams in the country, No. 20 San Diego State continues its non-conference schedule on Wednesday against visiting San Diego Christian. The NAIA member faces an uphill battle against San Diego State, which has won its first 10 games for the first time since 2010.

Washington State transfer Malachi Flynn averages 16.1 points while shooting 42.1 percent from 3-point range to lead the Aztecs, who are rated third nationally in the NCAA’s NET metric. “You pay attention to the NET because that’s what the NCAA uses for tournament selection and seeding,” coach Brian Dutcher told reporters. “It’s good to be that high. It feels good to know that we’ve put a schedule together that people respect and feel is pretty good.” Flynn hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer in last Sunday’s 59-57 victory over San Jose State while forwards Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel added a combined 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Aztecs lead the Mountain West in several categories, including scoring defense (57.5 points per game), field goal percentage defense (37.1) and turnover margin (plus-3.6).

TV: 10 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN (2-6): Dwayne Cosby is 11-23 in his second season as head coach of the Hawks, who play Grace College on Tuesday before facing the Aztecs. Junior point guard Teyden Gause scored a team-high 15 points in last Saturday’s 65-55 loss to The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, while guards JaMario Harris and Bryce Parsons added a combined 22 points. The Hawks opened the season with a 95-57 win over the University of Antelope Valley and play their home games at a community college located nine miles from the San Diego State campus.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (10-0): Sophomore forward Nathan Mensah recorded his third career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win over San Jose State, but senior guard KJ Feagin was held to three points on 1-of-10 shooting in 28 minutes. The Aztecs played without sophomore forward Aguek Arop, who was averaging 10.6 minutes off the bench but will miss the next month with a sprained shoulder. “We’re going to rehab him and try to get him back,” Dutcher told reporters. “We’re better with him. That’s the one obvious thing we all know. He’s a Swiss Army knife. He does a little bit of everything.”

TIP-INS

1. San Diego State has won all eight previous meetings against the Hawks by an average of 29 points.

2. The Aztecs have won 30 straight games when holding the opponent under 60 points.

3. San Diego State has won 15 straight games when leading at intermission.

PREDICTION: San Diego State 97, San Diego Christian 61