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The San Diego State Aztecs beat the Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions 74-45 tonight in the team's only 2014-15 exhibition game.
The Aztecs began tonight much like they did in many games last season. They struggled to put the ball in the basket, but made their opponent struggle even more to score.
PLNU kept right at SDSU's heels early in the first half with its deadly 3-point accuracy, though, shooting 60 percent from long range after nine minutes.
However, when Dwayne Polee II scored his first basket on a free-throw jumper and Winston Shepard followed with a breakaway dunk, there was no stopping the Aztecs in that first half. SDSU finished the half on a 21-5 run, going into the locker room shooting almost 50 percent from the field.
SDSU carried the momentum through the break, as Steve Fisher's squad began the second half on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Shepard-to-Polee alley-oop that sent Viejas Arena into a frenzy. The offense wasn't particularly special, but the defense looked season-ready, holding PLNU to around 30 percent shooting.
"The Show" and fans in attendance got a good look at half of the heralded 2014 recruiting class. Trey Kell started as the point guard and finished with 10 points and two assists. He also turned a steal into a breakaway dunk late in the second half. Kevin Zabo was first off the bench to spell Kell, and he finished the night with 5 points.
Angelo Chol also made his SDSU debut tonight, flashing a nice mid-range jumper en route to 7 points and three rebounds.
Shepard recorded a double-double and led the Aztecs with 16 points. More importantly, he looked in control all night -- something SDSU fans haven't always seen from the junior.
In his new starting role, Polee scored 8 points and grabbed three boards.
And the seemingly-always steady J.J. O'Brien netted 9 points and six rebounds.
Hayden Lescault led all PLNU scorers with 19 points.
SDSU fan-favorite Aqeel Quinn didn't suit up tonight for precautionary reasons. Quinn bumped knees in practice a couple days ago, and Fisher kept him out of tonight's exhibition.
Matt Shrigley also fell hard on a flagrant foul in the first half. Shrigley didn't play the second half for precautionary reasons, and Fisher said after the game that Shrigley's elbow was very swollen.