The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.
The masters of survive and advance survived and superior.
San Diego State went down early (sound acquainted?), went up 10 within the second half (sound acquainted?), struggled towards a 1-3-1 protection (sound acquainted?), missed free throws within the closing seconds of regulation (sound acquainted?) and went to extra time (sound acquainted?), simply because it had six days earlier within the regular-season finale.
The distinction? This was the Mountain West event. The Aztecs weren’t dropping.
And so they didn’t, getting a financial institution shot from Jaedon LeDee late in extra time — the precise sort of clutch basket that has evaded all of them season — to beat UNLV 74-71 on Thursday afternoon, extending their win streak within the quarterfinals to (sure) 17 and 9 when the opponent is the Rebels.
“It’s March, so wins are going to be ugly,” senior guard Darrion Trammell stated. “However all that issues is that we get the win and now we get to concentrate on the subsequent recreation.”
Subsequent up: Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal towards top-seeded Utah State, which additionally escaped in extra time towards Fresno State.
It units up a tantalizing showdown of Mountain West 2023-24 gamers of the yr, plural, Utah State’s Nice Osobor by the coaches and LeDee by the media.
Osobor had 29 factors, 17 rebounds and 20 drawn fouls (and missed a bunch of free throws) within the day’s first recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart. Then LeDee took the ground and posted 34, 16 and 17 (and missed a bunch of free throws).
The 34 factors are probably the most by an Aztec in Mountain West event historical past. LeDee turns into simply the fourth Division I participant within the final 5 seasons with not less than 30 factors and 15 rebounds in a convention event recreation.
He made right-handed bounce hooks, left-handed bounce hooks, jumpers within the lane, fall-away baseline jumpers, layups powering by means of a tangle of arms, even a 3. However his largest shot got here down one in extra time, taking a go on the prime of the important thing, driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left.
Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV’s freshman level guard who tormented Aztecs all afternoon with 29 factors, missed a finger roll on the different finish. LeDee received the rebound, made each free throws (after lacking seven earlier), and the Aztecs known as timeout with 2.7 seconds left.
The plan was to foul, if doable, buying and selling two free throws for a probably game-tying 3, however on the very least bracket two defenders on Thomas.
And what occurred? Thomas received the ball and weaved by means of Lamont Butler and Trammell at midcourt, creating an honest look from 25 toes.
“That labored out very well,” coach Brian Dutcher stated sarcastically. “He received a wide-open shot to finish the sport. Teaching typically is overrated. We had a man in entrance of him and behind him, and I appeared up and each guys have been behind him. We have been guarding the precise man, however we didn’t do what we would have liked to do to stop a shot by him.”
It hit the entrance rim … and rolled off.
The Aztecs exhaled.
Additionally they most likely figured they have been due.
All season, they’ve been in these positions and didn’t make well timed performs in clutch moments, or watched opponents make them. Proof: They led or trailed by a degree within the second half of all 9 of their losses.
That included final week at UNLV, when Thomas hit a step-back jumper within the last seconds. And final Friday on Senior Night time towards Boise State, when Butler missed the entrance finish of a one-on-one free throw up two with 15 seconds left and Max Rice made a desperation, 40-footer on the shot clock buzzer in extra time.
“I simply instructed them, ‘It is a good time to begin this,’” Dutcher stated. “It’s March. It’s event time. It is a good time to begin profitable shut video games. Every part previously is previously. All we management is the longer term.”
LeDee’s shot in extra time was massive. So was one by Trammell on the halftime buzzer, with the Aztecs scuffling alongside to possibly their worst 20 minutes of the season regardless of Kalib Boone, UNLV’s greatest rebounder, taking part in solely 59 seconds on a sprained ankle earlier than shutting it down.
They trailed after 5 minutes for the 11th time in 12 video games, though they “solely” missed their first seven photographs Thursday as an alternative of their first 13 final week at Thomas & Mack. Then an 11-1 Rebels run put them down 10 with a minute left within the half. The perimeter gamers have been capturing like they have been on an out of doors courtroom within the icy 30 mph wind gusts buffeting Las Vegas this week — 0 of 8 from 3 — and their factors per possession was a past dismal .655.
After which this occurred:
With 1.6 seconds left and the Rebels inbounding below SDSU’s basket, Keylan Boone tried to seek out Justin Webster on the free throw line and air-mailed the go. Trammell, taking part in free security, made the interception.
Catch, shoot, buzzer, good.
UNLV coach Kevin Kruger: “Clearly we weren’t throwing it to Trammell.”
Boone: “A bone-headed play by me. I used to be simply attempting to drive a play that wasn’t there.”
Dutcher: “We tried to get our workforce uplifted by that. They appeared somewhat down at halftime, however we tried to say, ‘Come on, that’s such an enormous momentum change.’ That was such an vital shot and that may flip the tide of a recreation, and possibly it did.”
LeDee: “We talked about it going into half. We have been sort of down, and we talked about as a workforce. That was one thing optimistic. We simply highlighted that, and we went out within the second half with nice vitality. I imply, it confirmed.”
That reduce the halftime margin to a extra manageable 27-22. Extra importantly, it in some way lifted the psychological lid on the basket.
The Aztecs had the ball to open the second half and fed LeDee for a left-handed bounce hook. Good.
On the subsequent possession, Jay Pal, who had handed up open seems to be within the first half, made a 3 and we had a ballgame. The Aztecs wanted 20 minutes to attain their first 22 factors, and 9 to attain their subsequent 22.
They pushed the result in 10 earlier than they began clanking free throws and blew a seven-point lead with 90 seconds to go. LeDee missed one with 27.6 seconds left. Micah Parrish, who was 0 of 8 from the sector, missed a pair with 14.7 seconds left.
Thomas spun his method by means of the lane and lofted a floater that tied it with 0.5 seconds left, and the Aztecs have been headed to their second straight extra time recreation.
However not their second straight extra time loss.
Having a 50-31 rebounding edge, a season-high 25 approaching the offensive glass, helped offset tough capturing video games by Parrish, Reese Waters (1 of seven) and Elijah Saunders (0 of 5). Butler had 12 factors. Trammell had 11 factors, 5 assists and 5 steals. Pal had 10 factors after scoring seven in his earlier three video games mixed.
All of it vital. None of it as vital, although, as LeDee driving proper into the lane and hoisting a mushy financial institution shot that nestled into the web for the lead with 14 seconds left in extra time.
“Now we’ve received one,” Dutcher stated. “We’ve received a detailed recreation. Let’s go get one other one and one other one, and let’s hold this going.”
Notable
LeDee is now 37 factors shy of Michael Cage’s single-season faculty scoring file of 686 factors. He handed Brandon Well being (637), Xavier Thames (633) and Anthony Watson (630) on Thursday … The 17 straight quarterfinal wins by SDSU is the third longest energetic streak within the nation for opening video games of a convention event, trailing Gonzaga (27) and Akron (19) … SDSU’s 35 convention event wins since 2009 are probably the most nationally. Gonzaga is subsequent at 33 … The Aztecs at the moment are 7-1 because the 5 seed within the Mountain West event. They’ve reached 9 of the final 10 finals … Trammell grew to become the primary SDSU participant with not less than 5 assists and 5 steals within the Mountain West event recreation.