Preview: Utah State Looks to Rebound at San Diego State SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The eighth-ranked Utah State Aggies aim to bounce back from a rare setback when they visit the San Diego State Aztecs in a pivotal Mountain West Conference men’s basketball clash Wednesday night at Viejas Arena. Utah State (23-4, 12-2 MW) saw its eight-game winning streak snapped with a 77-80 road loss at Nevada on Saturday. Despite the defeat, the Aggies remain atop the conference standings. They had previously dominated the league, with their last loss before Nevada coming on Jan. 20. San Diego State (18-8, 9-4) has dropped two of its last three, including an 83-74 loss at Colorado State on Saturday. The Aztecs will be fueled by revenge, having fallen 71-66 to the Aggies in Logan on Jan. 31. The matchup features a compelling backcourt duel. Utah State’s Drake Allen, a key facilitator, is coming off a 17-point, 4-assist effort in 34 minutes against Nevada. In the first meeting with SDSU, Allen posted 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. For the Aztecs, Reese Dixon-Waters has been a consistent scoring threat, averaging 16.1 points over his last seven games. He scored 19 against the Aggies in the January loss. Utah State’s potent offense, which has scored 85 or more points in four of its last seven games, will test a San Diego State defense that has been less formidable than in recent seasons. The Aggies have shown vulnerability on the road, with two of their four losses coming away from home. San Diego State’s path to an at-large NCAA Tournament bid likely requires a signature win, and this home game against a top-10 opponent represents a prime opportunity. The Aztecs are 11-2 at Viejas Arena this season. The Aggies hold a narrow lead in the conference race and cannot afford a second straight loss with tough games against Grand Canyon and UNLV looming. The Aztecs, sitting in third place, need a victory to keep pace and bolster their postseason resume. Wednesday’s winner gains crucial momentum for the final stretch of the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST.