San Diego State absolutely handled Colorado on Saturday, clinching a 77-66 victory in the very first Bill Walton Classic. This wasn’t just any win, it was a statement, especially after Chance Gladden dropped 20 points to effectively shut down an insane 33-point explosion from Colorado’s Barrington Hargress.
Aztecs’ Unyielding Grip
The Aztecs, now sitting pretty at 2-0, showed everyone why they are a force right out of the gate. Gladden was surgical, hitting 5-for-6 from the field and an almost perfect 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. Dude wasn’t just scoring either, he added four boards, three assists, and three steals, doing a bit of everything to make sure the Aztecs never looked back after taking their first lead just 1:45 into the first half. Latrell Davis was also clutch, pouring in 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including a sweet 4-for-6 from deep. His 15 second-half points were huge in helping San Diego State pull away when things could have gotten tight.
This team is built different, seriously. They locked Colorado down to a miserable 37% shooting from the field and just 36% from beyond the arc. And the boards? Forget about it. San Diego State dominated the glass 38-27, with Luca Vincini pulling down a game-high seven rebounds. That’s how you control a game, even when an opposing player is going off.
Hargress’ Solo Blast Wasn’t Enough
Credit where it’s due: Barrington Hargress was a one-man wrecking crew for Colorado. He poured in 33 points, with a wild 22 of those coming in the second half. He even managed to cut San Diego State’s lead to just eight points after they trailed by a massive 33-19 at halftime. But even that kind of individual brilliance couldn’t crack the Aztecs’ defense. The Buffaloes, now 1-1 on the season, just couldn’t get enough going as a team. Oh, and in a cool nod to the late Hall of Famer, both teams warmed up in tie-dye, and Colorado head coach Tad Boyle rocked tie-dye on the sidelines. A fitting tribute for the Bill Walton Classic, even if his team took the L.
San Diego State is riding high, hosting Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday, looking to keep that undefeated start rolling. Colorado, meanwhile, will look to get back on track when they host San Diego on Tuesday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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