Jaedon LeDee scored a career-best 27 points and also collected 10 rebounds to lead No. 17 San Diego State to an 83-57 victory over visiting Cal State Fullerton in the season opener for both teams on Monday night.
Micah Parrish added 17 points, six rebounds, four steals and made five 3-pointers, matching his career best for treys that he set for Oakland University during the 2021-22 season. The Aztecs outscored the Titans 46-22 in the second half.
Reese Waters tallied 15 points for San Diego State, which lost to UConn in last season’s national championship game.
Dominic Brewton recorded 13 points, six assists and four steals for Cal State Fullerton. Max Jones added 11 points and eight rebounds and Donovan Oday scored 10 points for the Titans.
The Aztecs were without Darrion Trammell (shoulder), the Most Outstanding Player of the South Regional in March.
Lamont Butler, who hit the buzzer-beating shot against Florida Atlantic to put the Aztecs into the title game, had eight points and seven assists.
San Diego State shot 45.2 percent from the field, including 9 of 31 from 3-point range.
The Titans connected on just 32.8 percent of their shots and were 5 of 24 from behind the arc.
Cal State Fullerton trailed by just two early in the second half before San Diego State created distance with a 24-8 run.
A 3-pointer by Parrish was followed by Butler’s steal and layup as the Aztecs took a 54-42 advantage with 14:52 left in the game.
Parrish later scored five straight points on a 3-pointer and then a steal for a layup as San Diego State’s lead grew to 61-46 with 11:51 to play. Waters scored five in a row a short time later to make it 66-48 with 10:10 to play.
The advantage reached 20 when LeDee split two throws to make it 72-52 with 7:33 left.
San Diego State’s lead topped out at 27 points.
The Aztecs started fast by scoring the game’s first 14 points.
Cal State Fullerton battled back and pulled within 23-20 on a 3-pointer by Brewton with 7:42 left in the half.
The Aztecs led 37-35 at the break with LeDee scoring 13 points. Jones had 11 in the half for the Titans.
–Field Level Media
