The San Diego State Aztecs picked up their biggest win of the 2009-2010 season, but it came at a heavy cost. The Aztecs (12-3, 1-0 MWC) used a strong second half to bull their way past 15th ranked New Mexico 74-64 at Viejas Arena, on a night when junior forward Billy White was lost for at least the short term and perhaps much longer with a high ankle sprain.
Malcolm Thomas (click here for 1-on-1 postgame interview) led the Aztecs with 18 points and a season-best 15 rebounds, while D.J. Gay added 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three point range. Tim Shelton stepped in for White with 26 minutes of play off the bench, contributing 8 points and 4 rebounds. Dairese Gary led the Lobos (14-2, 0-1) with 15 points.
While a win over a top-15 team is valuable, the loss of White (8 points in 9 minutes) may prove to be the bigger long-term story. He landed awkwardly on his right ankle after going up for a rebound with 5:45 remaining in the first half.
White could put no pressure on the ankle as he was helped off the court, and later watched the game on crutches and wearing a protective boot. Head coach Steve Fisher had a cautiously pessimistic diagnosis after the game:
Hear more from Coach Fisher and D.J. Gay, check out a picture gallery from the game and more after the jump! Continue Reading →
Malcolm Thomas slams home two of his 20 points/(619 Sports photo/David Olender)
Each year, head coach Chris Carlson has started his season at UCSD by challenging the big boys down the road on Montezuma Mesa. It’s an opportunity for the Division II Tritons to step up their level of competition, while giving the D-I Aztecs a chance to knock off the rust and start the year with a win. And usually, the Tritons keep it close for a half.
The script played out to form Saturday afternoon in front of 5,520 fans at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs led the Tritons just 31-28 at the half before stifling them out of the locker room, opening the second half on a 16-0 run which led to a comfortable 77-52 victory.
Steve Fisher’s team is going to be a work in progress this year, but he has some impressive tools to work with, and more on the mend. With Billy White (wrist), Tyrone Shelley (foot) and Tim Shelton (knee) all sidelined by injury, the scoring load went to Malcolm Thomas and Brian Carlwell, two junior transfers who were making their SDSU debuts. Thomas scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half and added a game-high 9 rebounds. Carlwell added 9 points, 5 rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals.
Fisher deemed it a good start against an always determined opponent in UCSD:
UCSD head coach Chris Carlson thought the Tritons learned a lot in the matchup:
Share SDSU’s men’s basketball team is heading to the Final Four of the NIT for the first time in school history. Last night’s thrilling, tense, roller-coaster 70-66 win over St. Mary’s at Cox Arena gave this class of seniors every chance possible to exorcise their demons. They faced a tough team which had beaten them [...]
Share[Editor's Note: 619 Sports is thrilled to add the talents of Chris Ello to our emerging webspace. If you know me, you definitely know Chris, another relentlessly local broadcaster who dates back to the original XTRA Sports 690. Chris begins contributing to our space right now with the column below]
RT @SDsprtsFAN: thx guys, I missed the last part of the game. It was cool reading the PBP, did your fingers hurt after? <--no pain, just sad 20 hrs ago
