sdsu basketball seeks payback in rematch with Grand Canyon after controversial finish
San Diego State returns to Viejas Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 (ET) for a nationally anticipated rematch with Grand Canyon, a game the Aztecs have circled since a 70-69 loss in Phoenix on Jan. 21. The previous meeting ended on a chaotic drive and a whistle that left SDSU questioning how the final 1. 8 seconds unfolded.
What unfolded in Phoenix and why it still matters
The Jan. 21 game came down to one frenetic sequence: Grand Canyon guard Makaih Williams sliced through traffic for a potential game-winner that Miles Byrd swatted away, only for an official to signal a baseline foul on freshman forward Tae Simmons with 1. 8 seconds left. The call sent Williams to the line for two shots that decided the game.
Earlier in the closing minute, BJ Davis missed the front end of a one-and-one with 7. 7 seconds remaining — an uncharacteristic miss that raced through him for weeks afterward. Davis, who had been a reliable free-throw shooter, saw his rhythm disrupted in the aftermath, and the Aztecs endured a brief offensive slump before regaining form.
Coach Brian Dutcher has used the final play not to inflame the locker-room but as a teaching moment: when a ballhandler is driving the length of the court on a potential last-second attempt, defenders should funnel him to the middle rather than allow him down the sideline, where the angle to the basket is more favorable.
Payback narrative, matchups and what to watch at Viejas
Players acknowledge the sting. Guard Taj DeGourville said simply, “We lost, so it hurts, ” and added that the Aztecs plan to “take it back. ” Reese Dixon-Waters called the finish “a little frustrating” and emphasized that the team felt the win had been within reach.
Grand Canyon enters the rematch with a 16-9 overall record and a 9-5 mark in conference play. The Antelopes have leaned on transfers and resources that have helped assemble a veteran, physically imposing roster; they rank highly in Division I experience and size, and they are the only team this season to have beaten both SDSU and Utah State. That combination of experience and depth will test San Diego State’s defense, a unit Dutcher has emphasized tightening after the Phoenix setback.
Key players to monitor include Makaih Williams, whose driving ability created the decisive moment in the first meeting, and BJ Davis, whose free-throw dynamics played a pivotal role. On SDSU’s side, Miles Byrd’s athletic rim protection and Tae Simmons’ physical play around the basket will be central to the Aztecs’ strategy. The coaching staff expects a rugged, physical contest and has prepared situational sets for late-clock scenarios.
Stakes and context beyond revenge
Beyond the simple revenge storyline, both programs understand the conference and NCAA implications. The Aztecs have two payback games on the horizon — Grand Canyon this week and Utah State next — that could influence seeding and momentum as the regular season nears its conclusion. Dutcher acknowledged it is “easy to say, hard to do” when speaking about payback, but emphasized focus on execution over emotion.
Officiating chatter will likely resurface, given the controversial nature of the Jan. 21 finish and the visible positioning of officials on the play. Officials are instructed to defer to a trailing crewmate in many late-game scenarios, and disagreements over who should have made the call remain part of the conversation. For the Aztecs, the response will be measured: learn from the breakdown, control what can be controlled and let the court decide the outcome.
Tuesday’s rematch at Viejas Arena promises intensity, with both teams mindful of the margin for error. SDSU’s locker room insists the lesson has been learned; now they want the result.
