Viejas Arena SDSU
Viejas Arena. Photo credit: goaztecs.com

Miles Byrd scored 19 points and made two highlight-reel plays for No. 23 San Diego State, which beat California Baptist 81-75 Wednesday for the Aztecs’ fourth straight win.

SDSU, though, blew most of a 19-point lead before Byrd and Nick Boyd took charge with time running down.

Byrd made a no-look bounce pass to Magoon Gwath for a slam dunk and a 54-45 lead with 14:40 to go. A few minutes later, Byrd stole a pass and went in for a dunk to make it 66-49.

But the Lancers cut it to 77-73 on Javonte Johnson’s 3-pointer with two minutes left. If the Viejas Arena crowd was on edge, Boyd settled them down with a bank shot and Byrd followed with two free throws to seal the win.

Boyd added 16 points despite playing with a bandage over his left eye after getting elbowed by AJ Braun with 9:36 left in the first half. Braun was called for a flagrant foul and Boyd made the second of two free throws to put the Aztecs ahead 22-21.

The Lancers never got the lead back.

Gwath and Miles Heide each scored 10 for the Aztecs (7-2). Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 22 points for the Lancers (5-5). Kendal Coleman added 13 and Adam Moussa 10.

California Baptist didn’t sneak up on SDSU. The Lancers beat Fresno State 86-81 in double overtime on Nov. 27 during a holiday tournament.

Fun fact though: The Aztecs, by facing the Lancers, out of Riverside, for the first time. have now played all 25 California Division I team

San Diego State shot 52.9% from long distance while Cal Baptist shot 36.4% from behind the arc.

San Diego State has almost two weeks off before playing California in San Jose on Dec. 23. Cal Baptist visits Middle Tennessee on Monday.