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BYU basketball versus San Diego State is a rivalry which got broken up by conference realignment, but when the Cougars and Aztecs were both in the Mountain West Conference, they forged a nasty and compelling rivalry which became one of the most underrated rivalries in college sports. No BYU-SDSU game ever meant more than the 2011 battle in San Diego's Viejas Arena.
BYU was 26-2 entering the game. San Diego State was 27-1. Both teams were going to be top-three seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams eventually did make the Sweet 16. Brandon Davies had not yet been suspended for violating the BYU honor code. He was part of the BYU team which went to Southern California to play this monster game on February 26.
BYU had Jimmer Fredette. San Diego State had Kawhi Leonard. It was a showdown of two genuine college basketball superstars. Yet, the difference in the game was not the headliners, but the supporting cast. BYU's Noah Hartsock and Charles Abouo were brilliant, combining to shoot 12 of 18 from the field for a total of 33 points along with 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 blocked shots.
Fredette scored 25 points, but he needed 23 field goals to do that. Hartsock and Abouo were a lot more efficient for the Cougars, who finished the game 47 percent from the field, 58 percent from 3-point range. The Hartsock-Abouo combo went 7 of 9 from 3-point range. Jimmer wasn't bad from distance, going 4 of 8.
With Fredette receiving San Diego State's full attention, the BYU star was willing to give up the ball to his hot-shooting teammates. He finished with nine assists, a display of maturity that helped his team win.
What also helped BYU win: The Cougars contained Kawhi Leonard, holding him to a modest 17 points on 6 of 14 shooting. SDSU's Malcolm Thomas was also limited by BYU's defense. The key member of the Aztecs' supporting cast hit just 3 of 10 shots.
BYU 80, San Diego State 67. It's the most important basketball game the two schools have played. They meet this December in Palm Springs to renew a very underappreciated college hoops feud.
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This article originally appeared on BYU Cougars Wire: BYU, San Diego State will meet this year, recalling epic 2011 meeting
