The final home game of the 2015-16 San Diego State men’s basketball season gave Aztec fans a chance to honor their trio of seniors: forwards Angelo Chol, Winston Shepard and Skylar Spencer.
SDSU sent its seniors out in a routing fashion, trouncing its rival UNLV Runnin’ Rebels 92-56.
Shepard and Spencer have played all four years on the Mesa, and are responsible for three Mountain West conference titles, three NCAA tournament appearances and four NCAA tournament victories.
Chol, on the other hand, has played his final two years at SDSU, joining the team for the 2014-15 season after transferring over from University of Arizona.
Shepard’s career as an Aztec has been nothing but stellar. He is the only player in school history with career totals of at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 250 assists and is one of 11 active players nationally to have accomplished that feat.
Shepard put on a clinic for his senior night, as he finished tied with a team-high 18 points, along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Spencer will go down as one of the greatest defensive players to ever suit up in the red and black. He ends his career as the MW’s all-time leader in blocked shots, and is 14th on the school’s all-time rebounding list with 618.
Saturday night Spencer grabbed seven rebounds and finished a perfect 2 for 2 from the free-throw line.
Although he was a late arrival in this group of seniors, Chol still left his mark at SDSU. In his career, he is 52.5 percent from the field, and he’s been a huge presence on the offensive glass with 141 career offensive rebounds.
Chol ended his final regular-season game with eight points, four rebounds and a steal.
The victory Saturday night also marked the 11th consecutive senior night game the Aztecs have won.
“Treys” for days
The Aztecs continued their hot shooting from downtown.
As a team, SDSU shot 46 percent from beyond the arc, going 13 for 28. The 13 made 3-pointers are the most this season, topping a previous season-high of 12 against Air Force back on Feb. 13.
The Aztecs had four different players with two or more 3-pointers, all of which scored in double digits.
The first 12 of SDSU’s points in the second half came off of 3-pointers, as they hit four in a row, all within a stretch of two minutes and 15 seconds.
But fittingly, it was sophomore guard Trey Kell who stole the show from long range.
Kell finished 4 for 5 from 3-point range, hitting all four of his shots in the second half. The four 3-point field goals are tied for the most made by an Aztec in a single game this season.
Spencer for 3?
Late in the second half when the score was well out of reach and SDSU had the game in cruise control, SDSU’s student section, The Show, began chanting and pleading for Spencer to attempt a 3-pointer.
Spencer heard the chants, but did not honor the fans’ request.
“I heard it, but I didn’t have the opportunities,” Spencer said. “I liked how the game played out for me and how it ended, so I have no complaints.”
Seemingly, Spencer will finish his career by matching his number of career 3-point attempts with the number he wears on his back: zero.
