Following a Championship victory at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, the San Diego State Aztecs (8-5, 0-1 Mountain West) started the new year with a tough 68-62 loss to the University of New Mexico Lobos (9-5, 2-0 Mountain West) at Viejas Arena in San Diego.
With junior forward Malik Pope out for the sixth game of the season and senior Matt Shrigley sitting out, the Aztecs needed others to step up. The Aztecs came out firing in the opening minutes of the game as they jumped out to an early 11-4 lead with 15:04.