Kelly Calligan, Photo Editor

The 1984-85 San Diego State men’s basketball team can uncork that champagne.

After tying the program’s best start with an eight-game winning streak to begin the year, SDSU was unable to notch a record ninth-straight victory Saturday.

Western Michigan, using a combination of pressure defense and strong outside shooting, broke the streak with an 84-73 victory at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

When it rains, it pours.

Aztec senior guard Brandon Heath scored just four points after the first four minutes of the game. His 13 points tied for his lowest effort of the season.

SDSU, which came into the game fourth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 48.5 percent, shot 38 percent for the game and went 2-for-10 in the second half.

The Aztecs’ opponent, Western Michigan, set a University Arena record with 16 steals in the game.

Considering all that, it’s not surprising SDSU (8-1) lost.

Early on, though, it looked as if the Aztecs might run away with the game.

SDSU took an eight point lead, 16-8, with 15 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first half as Heath scored nine of the team’s 16. Then, the Broncos (3-4) came charging back to take a 44-39 lead at halftime.

Throughout the game, neither team could take control. The score was tied six times, and the lead changed hands nine times.

The Aztecs took another lead in the second half, 63-56, with 7:36 left in the game after an 18-4 run capped off with sophomore guard Lorrenzo Wade’s layup.

Then a problem reared its head that had been hampering the team all game.

Over the next minute and a half, SDSU turned the ball over three straight times, and Western Michigan answered with its own run to recapture the lead.

“Defensively, we were able to get it across to our kids what we need to do,” Bronco head coach Steve Hawkins said in a press release. “We forced them into (a lot) of turnovers.”

Turnovers hurt the Aztecs. Every time SDSU seemed to find its stride, it slipped – a lot. The Aztecs turned the ball over 22 times, while Western Michigan only made 12 turnovers.

Western Michigan was led by guard Andre Ricks, who scored 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

News and Notes

?The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak this season for the Aztecs.

?The SDSU Athletics Department advises students to get tickets for the Aztecs’ game against Arizona as early as possible because there are fewer than 1,800 available for students.