Aztecs Face No. 7 Michigan in Players Era Festival Opener
The San Diego State Aztecs are gearing up for a high-stakes clash as they open the 2025 Players Era Festival against No. 7 Michigan on Monday night in Las Vegas. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Michelob Ultra Arena, with the game being broadcast on truTV. This matchup is particularly exciting, as it pits a disciplined, tournament-tested Aztecs squad against a top-ranked Wolverine team looking to assert its dominance early in the season.
San Diego State comes into the game at 2-1, having cruised through their first two contests against Long Beach State and Idaho State before suffering a heart-stopping 108-107 double-overtime loss to Troy. That game marked the first time SDSU wore their special Nike N7 turquoise uniforms, honoring the Native American community, and saw the return of Magoon Gwath, who scored 20 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked three shots in 28 minutes off the bench after seven months of knee rehabilitation. Gwath is expected to start against Michigan, potentially reshuffling the lineup and affecting players like Jeremiah Oden, Miles Heide, or Pharaoh Compton. Miles Byrd continues to impress despite a heavily wrapped shooting finger, scoring 24 points against Troy, while Reese Dixon-Waters added 16 points while recovering from the flu.
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The Aztecs have historically thrived in neutral-site tournaments, particularly in Las Vegas. Under Coach Brian Dutcher, SDSU has gone 16-11 on neutral floors over the past nine years, ranking third nationally behind Duke and Houston, and has won its last four nonconference tournament games in Las Vegas against ranked opponents. Dutcher, who spent nearly a decade on Michigan’s staff during the Fab Five era, now faces his former program in a matchup that carries both strategic and emotional significance.
Michigan enters the festival at 4-0 but has shown some vulnerability after a dominant 121-78 season-opening win over Oakland. Coach Dusty May’s squad has struggled to maintain consistency, barely escaping Wake Forest and TCU in tight contests. The Wolverines are experimenting with their lineup, trying to find the right combination of seven-footers Aday Maray, Morez Johnson Jr., and Yaxel Lendeborg, alongside guards Elliot Cadeau and Nimari Burnett. Michigan has been turnover-prone, averaging 15 per game, which the Aztecs will look to exploit.
With the KenPom metric projecting a narrow 77-72 Michigan win, the game promises to be a competitive, fast-paced showdown. For SDSU, success will depend on controlling the boards, limiting Wolverine transition opportunities, and leveraging the experience of players like Gwath and Byrd. For Michigan, minimizing mistakes and executing their versatile lineup efficiently will be key.
This matchup is more than just a game—it’s a statement for both teams in the early-season tournament environment. The Aztecs hope to continue their impressive Las Vegas streak, while Michigan aims to assert itself as a top contender in the national rankings. Fans can expect a thrilling contest that combines high-level strategy, emotional storylines, and intense basketball action under the bright lights of the Players Era Festival.
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