iStockphoto / © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Troy basketball team knocked off San Diego State in non-conference play on Tuesday night. They did so in dramatic fashion to send thousands of fans home deflated.
The Trojans held off a late surge to steal the win. It wasn’t the only thing taken from the Aztecs.
Troy was paid to play the basketball game. That money was used, in part, to cover the expenses of a 2,000-mile trip from Alabama to the West Coast.
San Diego State loses a buy game to Troy.
The epitome of brutality.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 19, 2025
Troy is no slouch. The Trojans have posted four straight 20-win seasons. They made the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Still, San Diego State scheduled the game with the intent of winning.
That was reflected in the 15.5-point spread ahead of tip-off. The Aztecs would find the Trojans to be a more worthy adversary than expected.
Troy basketball stuns SDSU.
More than 11,500 fans filled out a packed Viejas Arena in Southern California. They’d witness some incredible basketball. Unfortunately, the final result didn’t go the way of the home team.
San Diego State was given an immediate introduction as to the type of game it would be. The Trojans were not going to lay down.
Troy jumped out to a quick 14-2 lead across the first four minutes of play. The Aztecs weathered the storm to even the score at 38-38 to end the first half.
The two sides then combined for 102 second half points. The last three produced fireworks.
The Trojans led by 12 with less than four minutes in regulation. San Diego State closed the half on an 18-6 run, hitting a buzzer beater from halfcourt to force overtime.
MILES. BYRD. pic.twitter.com/yIPiBwFN6D
— San Diego State Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) November 19, 2025
The Aztecs would lose in overtime.
The buzzer beater only tied the score. San Diego State’s comeback bid would ultimately fall short as Troy won the basketball game in double overtime, 108-107.
For the Trojans, it represents a huge upset and a resume builder. For the Aztecs, it continued a trend being seen throughout the Mountain West Conference. No league has been hit as hard by these non-conference setbacks.
Boise State kicked off its season by losing to a DII opponent. Fresno State followed it up by paying six figures to lose to USC Upstate.
UNLV has already lost two buy games while down the road at Nevada, the Wolfpack has been served a loss by UC Davis.
It’s been a tough year for the league, made tougher by the fact that many of its top schools will move onto the PAC 12 in 2026.
San Diego State is the latest conference member to lose as a heavy favorite. Like their rivals, they paid to do so.