UCLA Bruins Defeat San Diego State Aztecs in Exhibition Game

Players from UCLA Bruins competing against San Diego State Aztecs during an exhibition basketball game.

News Summary

The UCLA Bruins triumphed over the San Diego State Aztecs with a score of 67-60 in their preseason exhibition game at Viejas Arena. UCLA set the tone early with a strong 17-0 run, while SDSU fought back in the second half. Reese Dixon-Waters led the Aztecs with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome UCLA’s steady performance. The Bruins showed their strength at the free-throw line, hitting 87%, while SDSU struggled at 69%. Both teams will take valuable lessons into their upcoming games.

San Diego, CA – The UCLA Bruins secured a victory against the San Diego State Aztecs with a final score of 67-60 in their preseason exhibition game held at Viejas Arena on Friday night. This match marked the first exhibition game of the 2025 season for SDSU, who put forth a strong effort but ultimately fell short against their opponents.

The game commenced with UCLA taking an impressive lead, executing a dominating 17-0 run that kept San Diego State scoreless for the first seven minutes. Sean Newman Jr. broke the silence for SDSU by sinking a three-pointer, providing the Aztecs with their initial points. Despite SDSU’s efforts to regain momentum, UCLA maintained control throughout the first half, concluding it with a commanding 39-23 advantage.

As the second half unfolded, San Diego State displayed resilience by quickly narrowing the gap, scoring nine of the first twelve points. Taj DeGourville was pivotal during this stretch, scoring five points in rapid succession that propelled the Aztecs within three points of the Bruins on two occasions in the final minutes of play. However, as the game approached its conclusion, UCLA extended their lead back to eleven points, ultimately solidifying their victory. Though Dixon-Waters assisted SDSU in reaching 60 points with a late-game basket, their comeback ambitions were thwarted.

Reese Dixon-Waters emerged as the standout player for the Aztecs, leading all scorers with 19 points, successfully making 7-of-13 shots, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Supporting him, Taj DeGourville added ten points to the scoreboard, while Miles Heide made his impact felt with seven rebounds. Furthermore, both Miles Byrd and Jeremiah Oden showcased their defensive prowess by each blocking two shots during the game.

On the UCLA roster, Donovan Dent led the Bruins with 18 points, albeit going 4-for-16 from the floor. Skyy Clark contributed 13 points and secured four rebounds, while Trent Perry rounded out the strong performance with ten points and five rebounds. The Bruins ended the game with a field goal percentage of 40.8%, compared to the 42.6% shooting from San Diego State.

Free-throw shooting was another crucial factor in the game. UCLA excelled at the charity stripe, hitting 87.0% of their attempts, while the Aztecs managed only 69.2%. In terms of rebounding, SDSU narrowly edged out UCLA, grabbing 29 rebounds against the Bruins’ 28. The Aztecs also found success in the paint, outscoring UCLA with 26 points to 20, and in bench points, where they led 21 to 15.

Both teams had opportunities to showcase their strengths and identify areas needing improvement as they prepare for the upcoming season. UCLA’s next exhibition game is scheduled against UC Irvine on October 28, 2025, while San Diego State will open their regular season against Long Beach State on November 4, 2025.

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Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER

The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.

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