San Diego State Recap: Aztecs lose late to rival Fresno State, 76-74.
San Diego State cuts deficit and still loses, 76-74
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San Diego State wins an ugly game at Las Vegas.
In the first half, San Diego State was down as much as 15 points with hope that they don’t repeat the same mistakes in Fresno. The gritty little Aztecs found some a spark came back in the 2nd half and took the lead with under 10 minutes to play.
San Diego State went up 71-63 with 2:50 left in the game. San Diego State had a shot at closing out, but a weird set of events happens in the last 3 minutes of the game.
Something was in the air tonight. It looked like San Diego State dazed at what could have been rather than staying in the moment.
Jalen McDaniels, Devin Watson, and Nathan Mensah were looking for fouls in the last sequences of the game while the refs swallowed their whistles. Their 8-point cushion started to dwindle. Mensah fouled out contesting a three, leaving San Diego State without a solid defender in the paint.
The Aztecs lucked out to have McDaniels shoot 3 shots from the foul line with 10 seconds to go to possibly tie the game. McDaniels shoots free throws at about 75%, and not the candidate the Aztecs would prefer at the line. McDaniels made two of three and the rebound went to Fresno State with 8 seconds to go. The Aztecs would pull 74-75 and an Matt Mitchell foul would put Fresno State at the line.
The ensuing result gets Fresno State to 76-74 and Devin Watson with the final posession of the game. Smothered through a full court press, he took the final shot and bricked it.
“Too little, too late” the saying goes. San Diego State put an effort in but between the numbers tells the true story.
San Diego State turned the ball over twice in back-to-back possesions with under minute to go in the game. San Diego State went cold from 3-point range shooting 27.5%. The Aztecs were -3 turnovers, -5 in steals which showed in the last 5 minutes. Fresno State was able to make 10 points off turnovers.
Deshon Taylor of Fresno State put up 26 points on the Aztecs, shooting 58% from the field and 66% from beyond the arc.
San Diego State started their seniors in front of the show, including Michael Sohikish who started the game for 3 minutes. The deeper the calendar turns in March, the Aztecs look forward to 3 games in Vegas.
The Aztecs close out the regular season at Nevada, before packing it up for Vegas for the Mountain West Conference tournament.
