Aztecs hit road to tangle with Bearcats

Dec 17, 2014 - 3:25 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Back in action for the first time in a week, the 19th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs clash with the Cincinnati Bearcats in non-conference play at Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday night.

Last season, the Aztecs didn't suffer their second loss of the campaign until going down against Wyoming the second week of February, but already in 2014-15 SDSU has two tallies in the loss column. In addition to a 61-59 setback to third-ranked Arizona last month, the Aztecs were also tripped up by Washington on the road 10 days ago in a defensive battle, 49-36.

San Diego State did manage to get back into the win column after the disappointing showing versus the Huskies, but the team's triumph over Long Beach State last week at this time came by just a single point, 60-59.

As for the Bearcats, they've come out on the wrong end of two of their last three decisions, after opening the season with five consecutive victories, albeit against some weak competition. The latest time on the court saw Cincinnati go to double-overtime versus Nebraska on the road and fall by a final of 56-55 on Saturday.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the hardwood.

The Aztecs enjoyed a 12-point lead in the first half against Long Beach State at Viejas Arena the last time out, but the team squandered that advantage and then had to fight back from an eight-point, second-half deficit in order to take the one-point win.

Dwayne Polee II came up with 16 points to lead the hosts in the scoring department, although he did shoot only 4-of-11 from the field and 1-of-6 behind the 3-point line. Winston Shepard pitched in with 10 points, but at the same time he was charged with five of the unit's 18 turnovers.

As has been the case for the last several seasons, the Aztecs are again priding themselves on their staunch defense, a defense that has limited the competition to only 55.0 ppg. Those opponents have converted a collective 36.0 percent from the field and 30.1 percent beyond the arc. Unfortunately, the offense for the Aztecs hasn't been up to snuff lately and is now generating only 62.3 ppg due to 28.3 percent accuracy out on the perimeter and a paltry 62.1 percent at the free-throw line.

Shepard and Polee are currently the only double-digit scorers that the Aztecs can rely on from one game to the next, averaging 10.2 and 10.0 ppg, respectively.

Considering the Bearcats shot only 31.7 percent from the field, including 3- of-17 beyond the arc, and had almost as many turnovers (18) as field goals (20), they had to consider themselves lucky just to be able to make it to overtime against the Cornhuskers. Then again, Cincy ended up posting a mere three points in the second bonus period as it went down for the count.

Troy Caupain, who made all three of his attempts at the free-throw line while his teammates combined to make just 9-of-21, finished with 13 points, six assists and five steals, perhaps the only real bright spot in the loss.

The Bearcats show similar numbers to SDSU when it comes to points allowed (52.8 ppg) and points scored (61.2 ppg), so it should not come as a surprise that the team doesn't have anyone scoring in double figures on a consistent basis. Caupain comes closest with 9.9 ppg, accounting for a team-best 25 assists as he tries desperately to get his teammates involved in the action.