Before the college basketball season started, new San Diego State point guard Nick Boyd said he wasn’t sure when the Aztecs would click, but when it did… “it’ll be scary.”

SDSU may have made the snap on Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Aztecs opened the Players Era Festival, an elite 8-team tournament with millions of dollars in name, image and likeness money on the line, with an impressive 71-53 win over #21 Creighton, featuring one of the best second halves of basketball. we’ve seen from SDSU.

The Aztecs led 32-28 at halftime before, fueled by their backcourt, they went all out after the break. With a 47-40 lead, sophomore B.J. Davis hit a jumper, two of his game-high 18 points, and fellow sophomore Miles Byrd (16 points) buried a 3-pointer to spark a 9-0 run that capped SDSU placed in the top 56. -40. If they get a lead like that, it will be difficult for anyone to come back.

The program that prides itself on defense put together an outstanding performance against All-American center Ryan Kalkbrenner. The fifth-year senior scored just two points in the first half and finished with 11 points, a far cry from the 49-point outburst he had five games ago. Causing the most trouble for Kalkbrenner was freshman Magoon Gwath, a fellow seven-footer who had easily the best game of his young collegiate career.

Gwath had a pair of blocks, one to deny Kalkbrenner, and showed off his offensive skills by making a 3-pointer that put the Aztecs on top 67-50 and sent San Diego State’s bench into hysterics. The Aztecs played nine guys and all nine scored… in the second half alone.

The Aztecs laid that, as Boyd might say, in terrifying depth again Wednesday afternoon against Oregon. If they win that, they will advance to Championship Saturday and be guaranteed a NIL contribution of at least $1.1 million.