The undefeated San Diego State men’s basketball team will face Utah Saturday in the fourth annual Basketball Hall of Fame Classic doubleheader at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 11-0 Aztecs are seeking to extend the second-best start in the 99-season history of the program. Future NBA all-star Kawhi Leonard led San Diego State to a 20-0 start in the 2010-11 season. The 11-game winning streak is tied for the fourth-longest in school history.
This will be the Aztecs’ first game in Los Angeles since Nov. 25, 2012, when they defeated USC, 66-60, and first at Staples Center, which opened in 1999.
“We are excited to play in the Los Angeles market and know that we will have a tremendous turnout from our fans,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said.
“Having a neutral-site contest against a high-level Pac-12 opponent in the Staples Center is a great opportunity and we look forward to playing in this Hall of Fame event.”
Starting guards KJ Feagin (Long Beach Poly) and Jordan Schakel (Bishop Montgomery) are among the four Aztecs who played high school basketball in Los Angeles County.
San Diego State was 20th in The Associated Press poll released Tuesday, five spots higher than the previous week. Utah (9-2) is unranked.
The Aztecs are among four undefeated Division I teams along with Auburn, Duquesne and Liberty. The basketball analytics website kenpom.com ranks San Diego State first in strength of record, a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult its record is to achieve.
The Aztecs have won six of their last seven meetings with the Utes, but lost the most recent game, 81-76, on Nov. 16, 2015. Utah leads the series, 54-19.
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