SAN DIEGO — San Diego State coaches knew. The players knew. The NBA scouts who attended practice knew.
Now everybody else knows.
Keshad Johnson could be a special player at San Diego State.
The sophomore who wears No. 0 — resembling the letter "O" for his hometown of Oakland — erupted for 13 points in less than three minutes in the second half Friday as the Aztecs blew open a previously tight game with UC Irvine for an easy 77-58 victory at Viejas Arena.
Consider: Johnson's former career high was seven, and he only managed 34 total points over 18 games last season.
But potential magically turned into performance when the 6-foot-7 forward subbed in with 17:05 left in the second half after starter Aguek Arop was whistled for three quick fouls. By the 14:06 mark, Johnson had three 3s, a lob dunk and two free throws after another attempted dunk.
He finished with a team-high 14 points, four rebounds and one steal in just 17 minutes against the Big West preseason favorite, underscoring why coach Brian Dutcher keeps saying this might be the deepest team in his two decades at SDSU.
Johnson showed flashes in Wednesday's 73-58 win against No. 22 UCLA, but on the defensive end with a key steal and block in the second half. The coaches said it was only a matter of time before the offense caught up.
The rest of the box score looked much like it did against UCLA, with numbers evenly distributed among numerous players. By halftime, nine had already scored, six had at least one rebound, five had an assist. With four minutes to go, SDSU had all three of its freshmen — Lamont Butler, Keith Dinwiddie Jr. and Che Evans — on the floor. With 1:18 to go, the walk-ons were in.
The only other Aztec in double figures was Matt Mitchell with 11 points. Nathan Mensah and Trey Pulliam had nine each.
The Aztecs shot only 40.3% and were outrebounded 38-31 but forced 25 turnovers that they converted into 26 points.
The game followed a similar pattern from both teams' openers here two days earlier.
The Aztecs gave up baskets on the first two defensive possessions and allowed their opponent a hot shooting start before tightening the screws. And for 15 minutes, the Anteaters looked like the team that won 30 games and upset Kansas State in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
On Wednesday, they led Pepperdine by eight midway through the first half ... and were down 23 in the second half. Against SDSU, still ahead after 15 minutes ... and down 34-25 at the half after closing it with zero baskets and five turnovers.
You figured the margin should have been greater, considering the Anteaters had three more turnovers (14) than baskets (11).
But SDSU couldn't shoot, missing 16 of its first 24 attempts before the late surge. Mitchell and Jordan Schakel opened a combined 2 of 9. There also was the matter of the 20-13 deficit on the boards, and the 6 of 11 performance at the line.
The Aztecs' 11-0 run to close the half started with a step-back 3 and layup in traffic by Pulliam. Then Mitchell drained a 3 at the top.
With eight minutes to go, the margin had grown to 28.
