Scouting Report: Miles Byrd vs. Donovan Dent

Miles Byrd (San Diego State)

Statline: 13 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK

Byrd showcased his two-way impact, contributing across the board with scoring, rebounding, and defensive activity. He flashed his athleticism with a big-time alley-oop and-one in transition, finishing through contact. 

Defensively, he was disruptive, registering multiple deflections, steals, and a strong help-side block that led to a transition three on the other end—a standout sequence that highlighted his ability to impact both sides of the floor.

Byrd’s effort on the glass stood out, as he consistently fought for loose balls, secured key rebounds, and showed great activity in contested situations. He also hit a timely shot, including a big off-the-dribble three to put SDSU up eight late in the game.

His playmaking was solid, delivering well-placed passes out of the pick-and-roll and in transition, though there were a couple of rushed decisions that resulted in turnovers. While he didn’t create much off the dribble, his ability to make winning plays, defend, and impact the game with his energy and effort was evident throughout.

Final Take: Byrd’s defensive instincts, rebounding, and ability to make hustle plays were key factors in SDSU’s success. His spot-up shooting, transition play, and his extra effort plays make him a valuable contributor, and if he can grow offensively, he’ll be an even bigger asset moving forward.

Donovan Dent (New Mexico)

Statline: 26 PTS, 7 AST, 0 REB

Dent controlled the tempo for New Mexico, displaying clear floor general qualities with sharp passing and poise. His CP3-like feel for the game was evident in his ability to break down the defense, hitting teammates for open threes and interior buckets. His tough fadeaway drives and high-level finishes through contact stood out, including an impressive and-one finish after absorbing two bumps mid-air.

Dent was an assertive scorer, constantly looking for his own shot while still keeping teammates involved. He displayed real three-point ability off the bounce, hitting multiple big-time off-the-dribble threes, including one to cut the lead to five and another step-back triple to keep New Mexico in striking distance. His ability to manipulate defenders off the dribble was elite—he made an insane move on Byrd to get a tough bucket at the rim and consistently found his bigs in tight windows.

His defense was inconsistent—he had a chase-down block on Byrd but also got caught in between assignments, leading to open shots. His body language felt too relaxed at times, which could be mistaken for disengagement. However, when locked in, he was a dynamic shot-maker and playmaker, keeping pressure on the defense with his scoring and passing.

Final Take: Dent’s playmaking, shot creation, and ability to score off the dribble were high-level. He was an aggressive scorer who could get his own shot and create for others, but he needs to maintain a consistent defensive focus and fully engage throughout the game. Dent needs to also improve on his catch and shoot three point opportunities.