With USD’s season characterized by nail-biting road victories and blowouts over cupcake opponents at home, the San Diego State men’s basketball team had every reason to view its crosstown opponent last night as a welcome reprieve.
The visiting Toreros hadn’t beaten an NCAA Division I team this season. SDSU, though, was one win away from equaling the best start in school history.
Call it the crosstown rivalry factor. Call it the added intensity that comes with it. Or just call it luck.
Whatever the case, USD gave the Aztecs everything it had last night at Cox Arena, as SDSU held off a scrappy and valiant Torero effort, edging USD 79-76 in front of 9,075 fans.
“We knew they were going to come out here and play hard,” said senior guard Brandon Heath, whose team improved to 8-0. “We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game by both teams, not just by us, but by them also.”
And the intensity allowed USD (2-4) to stay within a point at halftime. But the Aztecs went up by as much as 10 points in the second half, only to see USD fight its way back into the game in the final minutes.
After a sequence of intentional fouls and free throws by Heath (21 points, four assists), Torero guard Ross DeRogatis hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to bring USD to within one point with three seconds remaining.
But after two more Heath free throws and a late half-court attempt by Torero forward Chris Lewis that barely missed, SDSU escaped with a victory.
“I was fully aware that it was going to be a whole lot tighter than most people were talking,” head coach Steve Fisher said. “They played an exceptionally good basketball game, and we hung on to win.”
Earlier, however, it looked like the Aztecs could run away with the contest.
Down by seven with about eight minutes left in the first half, SDSU put together a 10-0 run highlighted by senior forward Mohamed Abukar’s 3-pointer that tied the game and got the packed student section roaring after a shaky start.
“When we needed a play, we made it,” Fisher said. “I’ve been there, done that. Good teams find a way to win, and we’re a good team.”
NEWS AND NOTES
?Heath’s 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting marked the 33rd consecutive game he has scored in double figures, breaking the school record formerly held by Zack Jones.
