The last time San Diego State opened a men’s basketball season against Long Beach State, in 2010, Kawhi Leonard and the Aztecs trailed by one deep into the second half and needed three 3s by backup guard James Rahon to grind out a nervy road win.

They went on to be ranked as high as No. 4, go 34-3 and reach the Sweet 16.

The Aztecs looked like they were going to need similar heroics Tuesday night in its lid lifter, as media relations folks like to call it, against the Beach at Viejas Arena, losing senior guard Reese Dixon-Waters to what was described as a “corneal abrasion” and then watching two other guards get in early foul trouble and two more limp off with leg injuries.

That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on hi

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