Nonconference scheduling in college basketball involves metrics, matchups, history, contacts, finances, timing and, apparently, a little serendipitous superstition.

San Diego State annually plays a non-Division I opponent during the regular season because it offers a chance to use the entire bench and work on things in a live game atmosphere; because it typically costs a four-figure “buy” fee instead of the $100,000 that most Division I opponents command these days; and because it doesn’t count in the computer metrics like a low-level Division I opponent would, potentially dragging down your numbers even in victory.

This season, the Aztecs decided to slot their non-Division I game for Tuesday night at Viejas Arena (7 p.m., YurView).

The first email was to Brian Newhall, the longtime coach at Division III Occidental College in Los Angeles.

“In 2022-23, when the Aztecs needed to get to their first Final Four, I called on you guys,” wrote Matt Soria, SDSU’s director of operations and chief scheduler. “No pressure, but can’t wait to see what you guys do for us this year!”

Newhall responded: “Appreciate you thinking about us … my recollection is that playing Oxy brings you Final Four type KARMA.”

This is the 35th meeting between the schools in men’s basketball, although 32 came between 1927 and 1953 before SDSU’s D-I era. They played in 2010-11, a 93-50 Aztecs win (Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and 10 rebounds) in what would be a 34-3 season and a trip to the Sweet 16. They played again two years ago, a 95-57 victory and we all know how that season ended.

“With all the new pieces, I think it’s a great game for us,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said. “The more they play together, the better they’ll get. This is a game where we’ll have a chance to play together.”

It looked like that would mean everyone except injured guard Reese Waters until late in Monday afternoon’s practice at the JAM Center, when Miles Byrd landed awkwardly after a corner 3-pointer and appeared to roll his right ankle.

So now you’re without your top returning scorer (and only member of the preseason all-conference team) until at least mid-December with a stress fracture in his foot … and your best player from the 63-58 season-opening win against UC San Diego for who knows how long. Byrd had a career night in his first career start: 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, five steals and four blocks.

The immediate question wasn’t whether Byrd will be available to face a D-III opponent they beat by 38 points two years ago, but whether he will be a week from now, when No. 4 Gonzaga comes to Viejas Arena or for No. 14 Creighton in the Players Era Festival opener on Nov. 26. Dutcher will have a better idea once Byrd gets an X-ray Tuesday.

“I mean, it happens all the time: You roll an ankle, you step on a foot,” Dutcher said. “Thank God it’s taped. Now we’ll see what it is. It’s part of basketball, ankles especially. Ankle sprains are part of what we do.”

It cast a pall over the final moments of what had been another hard, spirited practice following the scare by UCSD. The Aztecs trailed by five points with seven minutes to go before rallying behind a 12-0 run ignited by two baskets, a steal and a block from Byrd.

Dutcher was pleased with the defense, which held the Tritons to 18.2% shooting in the first half and 32.8% for the game — even moreso when he saw them drop 16 3s on Pepperdine on Saturday in a 94-76 win. He was less enamored with the offense, which struggled for long stretches against UCSD’s matchup zone and received little production from his taller front line (that had one offensive rebound among four bigs playing a combined 69 minutes).

“I didn’t think our offensive rebounding was what it needed to be,” said Dutcher. “That would be a way for them to be more productive – to be more active on the offensive glass.”

They also should get some work against a more traditional 2-3 zone defense. Occidental played one in the game two years ago, and the Aztecs responded by making a Viejas Arena record 19 3s.

They have essentially trained through this game, with a hard practice Monday instead of their typical abbreviated session to save legs.

“I don’t care who the opponent is, whether it’s Gonzaga in a week or its Occidental (on Tuesday),” Dutcher said. “It’s playing to whatever standard you should be at this time of the year. We’re not playing an opponent. We’re playing to a standard, and I want to be good at everything we do.”