Preview: Aztecs renew old rivalry with Poets, who visit Viejas for today’s 1 p.m. game

San Diego State vs. Whittier

When: 1 p.m. Monday

Where: Viejas Arena

TV: KUSI-TV

Radio: 760-AM

Records: SDSU is 6-4; Whittier is 7-2

Series history: These schools have actually played 80 times, with SDSU holding a 50-30 edge. All were before the Aztecs elevated from Division II to Division I and none since 1969.

Poets update: This game is technically an exhibition for the Poets but counts for the Aztecs. The early tip is to accommodate Whittier’s schedule for the holiday break, allowing players to leave for home that night. The series dates to 1923, with Whittier winning 28-9. Starting in 1926, they played regularly as part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), which still exists today as one of the nation’s top Division III leagues. The Poets enter on a three-game win streak after beating UC Santa Cruz, Pacific Union and CSU Maritime. Jonathan Duly is the leading scorer at 20.4 points and shoots 48.5% from 3, already making 33 this season in nine games. Tochi Onyeador, a 6-8 center from Nigeria, is the inside presence, averaging 8.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. They also have players from Argentina and the Netherlands. The Poets shoot it well from distance (39.5%) and take care of the ball (12.3 turnovers). Coach Mark Jensen has been in the program for more than two decades, the last nine as the head man. The Poets went 18-9 overall last season and finished fourth in the SCIAC at 10-6.

Next up: Dec. 30 at San Jose State (7 p.m., CBSSN)

–MARK ZEIGLER