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GAME NOTES: The 17th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs put their unblemished record on the line, as they play host to the Saint Mary's-Ca Gaels tonight at Viejas Arena.

Saint Mary's sprinted out to a 6-0 start to the season, but the Gaels suffered their first loss in their most recent outing, that coming in a 74-73 final against BYU in the South Padre Invitational in Texas last Saturday. The team's critics were quick to point out that SMC hadn't faced a quality opponent, that was until a 20-point win over Texas Tech just prior to the near upset of the nationally-ranked Cougars. The Gaels will begin West Coast Conference play at Loyola Marymount on January 6th.

San Diego State is a perfect 6-0 on the young season, with really a three- point win over Gonzaga back on November 16th being its only real test thus far. The Aztecs, who are off to their best start since going 8-0 to open the 2006-07 campaign, took out NAIA foe San Diego Christian in their home opener last Friday, 88-69, and four of their six wins have come by double figures. Outside of this clash with the Gaels, SDSU's only other challenge before starting Mountain West Conference play at TCU on January 5th, is expected to come in a game at California on December 8th.

Saint Mary's owns a 6-4 edge in the all-time series with San Diego State, and this is the fifth straight year in which the teams have met.

Rob Jones scored 18 points to pace four players in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Gaels dropped a one-point decision to BYU last Saturday. Mickey McConnell and Mitchell Young both added a dozen points, while Matthew Dellavedove chipped in with 11 for Saint Mary's, which shot 49 percent from the field, but made only four of its 12 three-point tries and committed 17 turnovers. Conversely, the Cougars made good on 53.8 percent of their total shots, including 64 percent in the first half. McConnell averages 14.4 ppg to lead five double-digit scorers for the Gaels, who are averaging a gaudy 90.3 ppg on 52.1 percent field goal efficiency, which includes a 37.4 percent showing from beyond the arc. Defensively, Saint Mary's is yielding just 61.1 ppg on typical shooting outputs of 39.6 percent overall and 25.8 percent from three-point range. A +11 rebounding margin and 17.4 forced turnovers per outing have also helped matters.

Kawhi Leonard and Chase Tapley each scored 14 points to lead San Diego State to the easy win over San Diego Christian last Friday. Billy White chipped in 10 points for the Aztecs, who hit 60.3 percent of their field goal attempts, which included an 8-of-15 showing from long range, and all 11 players scored for coach Steve Fisher's club. SDSU outscored its overmatched opponent 60-20 in the paint, and 36-16 in bench points. The Hawks wound up shooting a respectable 42.4 percent from the field, and they nailed 10 three-pointers along the way. They did, however, take 28 long-range shots while suffering a 38-22 deficit on the glass. Leonard is averaging a double-double with his 18 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, while White and Gay are both double-digit scorers as well with 11.3 and 11.0 ppg, respectively. As a team, the Aztecs are connecting on 53.6 percent of their field goal attempts in putting up 77.5 ppg. Defensively, they are allowing 63.7 ppg on 40.4 percent field goal accuracy.

This game could be every bit as entertaining as the one the Aztecs played against Gonzaga, another West Coast Conference team. SDSU has the obvious advantage of playing at home.