By Jon GoldSenior Staff Writer
In September, the San Diego State football team lost to the OhioState Buckeyes by three in a heartbreaker. Apparently, theirbasketball counterparts thought they could make up for the defeatwith treys of their own.
The Aztecs knocked down 13-of-22 from behind the arc en route toan 83-61 victory over the Buckeyes in the opening round of the MauiInvitational Tournament on Monday night.
Whilethe team has still not found a consistent scoring option in thepaint, its perimeter game looks just fine. A pair of SDSU (2-0)newcomers, guards Brandon Heath and Wesley Stokes, looked likeseasoned veterans in only their second game in Aztec threads.
Heath drained 5-of-6 from long distance, and added nine freethrows to finish the contest with a game-high 28 points. Stokesweaved through, and sometimes over (with three charges) the OSUdefense, pouring in 22 points.
“We just have great perimeter players,” forward Chris Walton said.”Tonight they made huge shots for us. Eventually, teams will have tostart looking out for them and it will leave it open for myself,Aerick (Sanders) and Chris (Manker).”
While the long-range game has been a huge boost to SDSU’s 2-0start, they still have not found a reliable scorer in the post.Sanders fought foul trouble for most of the second half to finishwith eight points, and Walton added eight from the other forwardposition.
Despite not yet finding a dominant big-man on its roster, the teamis still pleased with its success from downtown.
“We’re not the biggest team, and we know it,” Walton said. “We’regoing to go up against guys all year long who are bigger than us, sowe just have to do what we do best and go out as a five-man unit.”
Morethan 25 minutes of play went by before either team could grab hold ofthe game. The score was deadlocked at halftime, 32-32, and neitherteam was hitting its shots early in the game. Luckily for SDSU, thecombination of Ohio State’s mismanagement of the ball (23 turnovers)and the Aztecs’ lightning-quick defense (11 steals) allowed them totake command of the game early in the second half.
After a Tony Stockman three-pointer gave the Buckeyes a 37-35lead, SDSU’s backcourt awakened. Spurred on by Stokes’ passing, Heathnailed three treys in a 21-1 run, giving the Aztecs a 58-40 lead andblowing the game wide-open. The team’s persistent defense allowedthem to coast the rest of the way, and they only allowed the Buckeyessix field goals over the last 10 minutes.
With Dayton (score unavailable at press time) on the schedule forthe semifinals of the tournament, the Aztecs have to feel confident.Despite having several talented players during Steve Fisher’s tenure,this team’s 2-0 start is only the second the Aztecs have had in thelast eight seasons.
“I feel great, and the team feels great,” Walton said. “Ohio Stateput up a great fight, but we were running on adrenaline all night. Itwas a great win for the program, but we cannot be satisfied. We cancelebrate for 20 or 30 minutes, but then it’s back to the hotel towatch more film.”
