SDSU Earns City Bragging Rights

By Brad Best

The San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball team defeated the USD Toreros on Wednesday, December 3 and then completed the city sweep by beating the UCSD Tritons on Saturday, December 6. This is the second year in a row that the Aztecs beat both cross-town rivals.

SDSU built up an early lead on USD in front of a sell-out crowd at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the USD campus, where the Aztecs hadn’t won since 1975. The Aztecs featured a balanced scoring attack in the first half, making 50 percent of their three point shots. At the half, the Aztecs led 40-27, and the Aztec peppered crowd was in full voice. Torero center Brice Vounang led all first half scorers with 15 points, keeping USD’s hopes alive.

Early in the second period, the Aztecs lead grew to 20 points. This had all the makings of a blowout. But USD coach Brad Holland called a timeout and sparked a shooting frenzy by the Toreros. Reserve guard Brad Lechtenberg got hot and nailed three pointers in three successive trips down the court. This ignited a comeback that enabled the Toreros to capture a lead twice in the final minutes of the second half. But freshman Brandon Heath proved to be the stopper in killing the Toreros chances. Each time the Toreros tied the game or took the lead, Heath immediately answered. He scored the Aztecs final 9 points and ensured a 66-63 victory with a pair of clutch free throws.

Vounang finished with 21 points and Lechtenberg with 15 points to lead the Toreros. Heath led the Aztecs with 27 points, only one shy of his career best. Tommy Johnson was the only other Aztec in double figures. He finished with 10 points.

In the Saturday night contest against UCSD, a Division II school, the outcome was never in doubt. The Aztecs got off to a quick start (13-2) and finished with a wire-to-wire 76-51 victory. Five Aztecs scored in double figures for the first time this season. Wesley Stokes led the way with 18 points and 8 assists. Heath, Chris Manker, Aerick Sanders, and Chris Walton all had 12 points. Manker set career highs in both points and rebounds and was named the player of the game.

Injuries continue to be a concern for the Aztecs, who have been using an eight-man rotation as of late. Starter Tommy Johnson did not play against UCSD due to a sore shoulder. He said he would be fine to play next week. Trimaine Davis is recovering from knee surgery, and Travis Hanour is dealing with back problems after undergoing knee surgery in the off-season. Steve Sir had hernia surgery over the summer and played for the first time this season against UCSD.

By defeating UCSD, the Aztecs won their 7^th straight December game, including victories from last year, and have won 11 straight December games against non-ranked opponents. The Aztecs will face a tough test on December 13 as they travel to Lubbock, Texas to play Texas Tech. Bobby Knight’s team defeated the Aztecs twice last year. The first game was in San Diego and the second match-up at Lubbock in the second round of the NIT. Mountain West Conference foes Utah and New Mexico have already lost to Texas Tech this season, so the Aztecs would do well to come away with a victory.

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