The Utah State Aggies hadn’t beaten a top-25 team on the road since 1991.
They hadn’t beaten San Diego State on the road since ′98. And it didn’t look like any of that would change, as they fell behind by 18 points at Viejas Arena early on Saturday.
Then Tucker Anderson let one last 3-pointer fly.
The bucket, the sophomore wing’s fourth of the game, gave the Aggies a 67-66 win over the No. 20 Aztecs.
Utah State is now 12-1 on the season under new head coach Jerrod Calhoun and has picked up Quad 1 victories in back-to-back road games.
Anderson, who came into the game shooting 20% (9 for 44) from beyond the arc, finished with 14 points, including his game-winning basket with 6 seconds left.
Ian Martinez (17 points), Mason Falslev (16) and Deyton Albury (11) also scored in double figures for the Aggies.
On Saturday, USU led for 1:49 of game time and never led by more than one point.
The Aggies trailed 40-22 with under two minutes to play in the opening half. But USU went on a 22-5 run over the end of the first half and the start of the second — helped by a 1-for-11 stretch by the Aztecs — to make it a one-possession game.
After the two teams battled for most of the second half, San Diego State went on an 8-0 run to take a 65-58 lead with under two minutes to play.
That’s when Martinez started USU’s rally by driving to the basket and throwing in a twisting layup while getting fouled. Anderson made it a one-point game with a transition 3 a few moments later.
San Diego State guard Nick Boyd split a pair of free throws to make the score 66-64 with 50 seconds to play. Boyd and guard Miles Byrd each finished with 14 points to lead the Aztecs.
USU’s Karson Templin rebounded a missed 3-pointer with 30 seconds left, setting the table for the Aggies’ final play. After working the ball around for most of the shot clock, it found its way to Anderson. The 6-foot-9 wing lined it up and splashed in the eventual game-winner. The Aggies held for one final defensive stop to secure the victory.
USU is 3-1 in its last four games against AP top-25 teams.
The Aggies will be on the road again on New Year’s Eve when they take on the Nevada Wolf Pack.
