SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego State Aztecs opened their season with a dominant 77-45 victory over the Long Beach State 49ers in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out Viejas Arena.

A crowd of 11,644 watched the Aztecs control the game from the outset, building a 40-25 lead by halftime and never looking back. The 49ers struggled offensively throughout the contest, shooting just 32.2 percent from the floor and a paltry 20.8 percent from beyond the arc.

San Diego State’s defense was the story of the game, forcing 20 Long Beach State turnovers and converting them into 24 points. The Aztecs also capitalized in transition, outscoring the 49ers 13-3 on fast breaks. Offensively, San Diego State was efficient, shooting 43.3 percent from the field and a sharp 47.8 percent from three-point range.

Miles Byrd led a balanced Aztecs scoring attack with 13 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes. He was one of five San Diego State players to reach double figures, joined by Elzie Harrington with 13 points and four assists, and Miles Heide, Tae Simmons and Taj DeGourville, who each added 10 points. The Aztecs shared the ball effectively, tallying 11 assists as a team.

Long Beach State was led by Petar Majstorovic, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas Washington contributed seven points and four rebounds off the bench for the 49ers. The team’s offensive struggles were underscored by an offensive rating of just 60.5 points per 100 possessions, compared to a robust 110.0 for San Diego State.

The loss drops Long Beach State to 0-1 to start the season. The 49ers will look to rebound on the road this Saturday, November 8, against Fresno State.

San Diego State begins its campaign 1-0 and will return to action at home this Sunday, November 9, against Idaho State. The Aztecs, who were installed as 20-point pregame favorites, outperformed the spread, while the combined score of 122 points fell well under the over/under line of 138.