SAN DIEGO — San Diego State survived a second half push from Pacific on Saturday afternoon, holding on for a 70–68 victory in front of an energized crowd of 2,365 on Filipino Heritage Day inside Viejas Arena. The win capped a game that head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson called “fun to watch,” adding that it’s better to “win and learn than lose and learn.”

The Aztecs were electric early, shooting 47% from the field and 54.5% from three in the first quarter, building a 22-15 lead. Naomi Panganiban hit three threes in the quarter, including a crazy shot from well beyond the arc as time expired. Those three points, as it turned out, were critical to the win.

Watch the play that begins at 1:00 minute in the video. Panganiban (#24) gets the ball in the back court with 5.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter, dribbles four times and makes the shot from well beyond the arc. Credit: SDSU Athletics

“The environment and all the events leading up to it just gave me some extra juice,” said Panganiban. The Aztecs hit nine threes before halftime and pushed their lead to 44–31 by the break, with first half shooting 50% from the field, including 56.25% from three.

“I thought we played a pretty good first half,” said Terry-Hutson said. “We were pretty crisp in the first.”

Panganiban fueled the offensive rhythm, finishing with 17 points. Playing in front of a large Filipino community made the game especially meaningful. “It was so awesome just to be able to represent my Filipino culture, my family,” she said. “Hearing the national anthem to the Philippines being played made me a little emotional.”

SDSU maintained control early in the third, holding a 14-point advantage with just under four minutes left in the quarter. But Pacific surged, ending the quarter on a 12–2 run to pull within four, 57–53. “They made some adjustments that we struggled with,” said Terry-Hutson. “We couldn’t get the buckets that we wanted.”

Pacific continued to stay close in the fourth. SDSU briefly rebuilt a six-point edge at 9:45, 8:10, and 3:27, but the Tigers answered each time, trimming the margin to three with 2:25 left in the game on a pair of free throws by Pacific’s Daria Nestorov. Moments later Kennedy Lee found Alyssa Jackson in the paint for what became the game-winning basket and a five-point lead. Pacific answered with a three with 1:09 remaining, still down two, 70-68.

The Aztecs needed one more decisive stop, and they got it. Pacific had a chance to score with 26.1 seconds on the clock. The fans rose to a roar right when the defense needed it most.

“We were able to get stops when it mattered,” said Terry-Hutson. “That last rebound by Nat was a big, big rebound. Us not fouling, us getting out and taking away the three to make her drive. That was all part of the game plan.”

Four players had double-digit performances. After Panganiban’s 17, Lee, Martinez, and Nala Williams had 14, 12, and 10 respectively. Nine players scored.

The victory sets the Aztecs up for a challenging road test at Kansas State, where they’ll face another physical opponent. “After playing UCLA and Penn State, I don’t think they’ll be intimidated,” Terry-Hutson said. “We talk about respecting everybody, but we can’t fear anyone.”