San Diego, CA
3 thoughts: SDSU 76, Boise State 68 … On Taj DeGourville, charter chatter and ExtraQuiet Arena
BOISE, Idaho – Three thoughts on San Diego State’s 76-68 win at Boise State on Saturday afternoon:
1. The other freshman
With 7:05 left, SDSU starting guard BJ Davis was whistled for his fourth foul and went to the bench. Coach Brian Dutcher looked down it, past the injured Reese Waters, past senior Wayne McKinney III, and motioned for Taj DeGourville, a true freshman.
He never subbed out.
That DeGourville played the final seven minutes of a game with such huge implications tells you a lot about Dutcher, who has never shied away from shaking up the rotation in crunch time and riding the hot hand. It also tells you a lot about the progress of DeGourville, who is emerging from the shadow of redshirt freshman Magoon Gwath and Mountain West preseason freshman of the year Pharaoh Compton.
“Taj just knows how to play,” Dutcher said of the 6-foot-5 guard from Las Vegas. “And he’s just getting better. He’s a freshman, the first time at this level. He’s getting more comfortable. His defense is getting better. He’s an elite-level passer. He knows where everybody is on the floor. It seemed earlier in the year he wouldn’t attack to the rim. He settled for the 3 or got in the paint and passed the ball. Now he’s attacking the rim, and it makes him really dangerous.
“As much as you think you know your team, it’s always a moving target. Guys are getting better, guys are sliding back a half-step. You always have to keep your eyes open to see who’s actually playing well when they’re in the game.”
In 21 minutes, DeGourville finished with 13 points and six rebounds, both career bests against Division I competition. Most of that came in the final 7:05.
He grabbed a defensive rebound. Then he had a steal. Then scored on the break. Then drove, scored, was fouled and completed the three-point play. Then another defensive rebound. Then a put-back off an offensive board. Then another defensive rebound.
“I felt I was playing well, but I knew I had to turn it up to stay out there,” DeGourville said. “So I turned it up. It’s all about getting comfortable. I wasn’t as comfortable as I am now, 12 games in. Having more games and more confidence allows me to show all my game.”
2. Charter members
For the second straight time, SDSU didn’t get to its hotel until the day of an away game.
This wasn’t as fretful as the Dec. 21 game in San Jose against Cal, with two flight cancellations, an overnight in Orange County, most players and coaches flying in the afternoon of the game, the rest of the travel party busing 8½ hours and walking into the SAP Center six minutes before tipoff. The Aztecs’ commercial flight to Boise on Friday night was delayed two hours and landed at midnight.
SDSU won both games despite not having a morning shootaround to acclimate to the arena’s rims, lighting and sightlines. And both wins were accompanied by big jumps in the metrics, from 42 to 34 in Kenpom and 48 to 35 in the NET after Saturday.
They also were playing with fire. If their Friday flight on Alaska Airlines had been canceled, as it had the night before with fog blanketing San Diego, finding 20-plus open seats on a commercial carrier to reach Boise for a 2 p.m. MST tip would have been challenging, if not impossible.
Charter flights can be delayed as well, but there is more flexibility. In the case of coastal fog, for instance, the plane can retrieve you from a non-commercial inland airport. You also can fly home immediately after a game, instead of, as the Aztecs endured Saturday, middle seats on a pair of Southwest flights via Phoenix that arrived at 10 p.m.
That beat last year’s commercial return from Boise, which involved a lengthy weather delay changing planes in Portland and, in Dutcher’s words, “took us two days to get home, it seemed.”
Boise State charters everywhere. While the Aztecs were sitting in the airport waiting for their Alaska Airlines crew to arrive on another flight, USD was chartering to Saturday’s game at Oregon State.
“That’s tough. That is tough,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said of SDSU’s midnight arrival followed by a two-leg trip home. “You might not see the effects initially, but it can be cumulative. The moment the game gets over, you’re getting ready for the next game, getting your bodies right, getting your minds right, getting the scouting done. There’s a lot to do, and if you’re spending your whole time traveling, it has an effect, no doubt.”
To that end, the worst might be behind the Aztecs.
The program is typically allotted four charter legs per season, and they have yet to use any. And boosters have chipped in for two more legs, allowing for five of their remaining eight Mountain West road trips to involve charters at least one way.
The Aztecs will charter home from New Mexico, Air Force, Nevada and Utah State. They’ll also charter to and from Wyoming, which otherwise requires a commercial flight to Denver followed by a 2½-hour bus ride over a snowy mountain pass prone to high winds.
They’ll fly commercial home after the March 4 game at UNLV, with four days before hosting Nevada. Same for the Feb. 11 game at San Jose State, with four days before hosting Boise State.
“Chartering is obviously nicer when you’re able to do it,” Dutcher said. “When we can, we’re eternally grateful.”
3. ExtraQuiet Arena
Dutcher and his players uniformly praised the Viejas Arena crowd despite their 67-66 home loss against Utah State on Dec. 28. The students were still on break. It was nonetheless sold out and loud — like, really loud.
Not so at ExtraMile Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The one time the decibels cranked up was when the Broncos momentarily tied it at 58-58 with 6:43 left, but Dutcher called timeout and the Aztecs went on a 7-0 run that put fans back in their seats.
The lethargy did not go unnoticed.
“Was dead for a game of this magnitude,” B.J. Rains, publisher of Bronco Nation News, tweeted. “Really odd. Place should have been electric. Instead felt similar to the Air Force game two weeks ago. And that’s mostly on the fans, but I think more could be done to get the energy rising closer to tipoff.”
To be fair, it’s a maturation process. Viejas Arena wasn’t always so rowdy, especially outside the 2,500-seat student section. But an aging season-ticket holder base, to its credit, has learned over the years when to generate noise and energy, and the staff operating the music and video boards inside Viejas knows exactly how to push those buttons.
“Had ‘fans/donors’ in front of my seats yell at my wife for my kids getting loud in the past,” Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey tweeted after the game Saturday. “Basketball is not tennis. We will find a solution. The best basketball atmospheres in the country are the loudest.
“Days of sitting and golf clapping are over.”
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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