On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.
On the 25th anniversary of the Mountain West, San Diego State saved with custom.
It reached the convention event closing.
It misplaced the convention event closing.
Sixth-seeded New Mexico, taking part in for the fourth time in lower than 70 hours and taking part in a lot of the sport with out one among its greatest gamers, was the brisker staff down the stretch and beat the Aztecs 68-61 on Saturday afternoon at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Middle.
Which suggests: Within the final 13 Mountain West tournaments, the Aztecs are 25-2 within the first spherical, quarterfinals and semifinals … and 3-8 within the closing.
“Clearly we’re upset, and we ought to be,” mentioned Brian Dutcher, who has reached the ultimate in all seven seasons as SDSU’s head coach. “We wished to hold a banner, win one other Mountain West title, however it didn’t occur. However we will’t have a lingering impact over shedding. I believe we performed good basketball right here the final three days in Vegas, and that was vital main into the NCAA Match.”
The convention isn’t shedding any tears. SDSU’s loss seemingly means an additional $2 million for the convention in NCAA Match items, because it offers the Lobos (26-9) the Mountain West’s computerized berth after precariously sitting on the bubble all week. A file six faculties are anticipated to listen to their title referred to as when the 68-team bracket is unveiled Sunday afternoon (3 p.m., CBS).
“Typically it may be arduous,” mentioned coach Richard Pitino, whose Lobos turned the primary staff to win the Mountain West event taking part in 4 video games in 4 days. “There have been some powerful occasions this 12 months with some powerful losses, particularly at house, the place you needed to decide your self up off the mat, and also you simply needed to hold believing in what we’re doing and believing within the guys within the locker room.
“Our guys by no means ever wavered from their confidence. They actually didn’t. They got here into this event really believing that they may win it.”
The Aztecs have been already assured an at-large berth win or lose Saturday. The one query now could be whether or not Saturday’s loss drops them from a No. 5 to a No. 6 seed.
It shouldn’t, and the choice committee usually has the highest half of the bracket determined by Friday. However the distinction between a 5 or 6 is gigantic in the kind of opponent you draw.
A No. 5 will get you a 12 seed usually from a mid-major convention. A 12 months in the past, the Aztecs have been a 5 and opened in opposition to Charleston and a roster constructed with Division II transfers, not taking part in notably effectively however nonetheless profitable.
A No. 6 seed, nevertheless, often means an influence convention staff with the kind of dimension, athleticism and moxie in massive video games that would trigger the Aztecs issues.
Then once more, lots of the Aztecs’ issues as of late appear self-inflicted. They fall behind early, exhaust power reserves clawing again, then are on fumes within the closing minutes.
It occurred once more Saturday. Down 14 within the first half. No photographs by Jaedon LeDee for the primary 13½ minutes and no factors for the primary 16. Large comeback. A four-point lead with seven minutes to go on a 3-point by Micah Parrish.
After which …
Yet one more basket the remainder of the best way, and that was with 22 seconds left, and by then it was too late.
They missed 13 of their closing 14 photographs and have been outscored 15-4.
Within the span of 21 hours, they went from their greatest sport of the season in offensive effectivity (1.27 factors per possession) to their fourth-worst (.96).
LeDee nonetheless completed with 25 factors after drawing 10 fouls and going 11 of 11 from the road. He acquired little assist, although. The remainder of the staff scored 36 factors, shot a dismal 29.5 p.c and drew six mixed fouls.
Within the second half, it was even bleaker. LeDee had 18 factors; the remainder of the staff had 13 and shot 18.2 p.c.
The taking pictures woes from 3 returned, too, going 4 of 20, providing their NCAA Match opponent subsequent Thursday or Friday a easy sport plan: collapse on the 6-foot-9, 240-pound man within the paint and let everybody else fireplace away indiscriminately (and they’ll).
Two different killer stats Saturday: an 18-6 Lobos edge in second-chance factors (it’s not signal when your main rebounder is a 5-10 guard) and 14-0 in factors off turnovers.
Offensive rebounds have been an SDSU bugaboo late in video games, they usually have been once more Saturday in opposition to a supposedly drained opponent. Tied at 59, New Mexico freshman JT Toppin grabbed a blocked shot and beat the shot clock along with his put-back. On the subsequent possession, Toppin acquired his sixth offensive board of the sport on a missed free throw by Nelly Junior Joseph, and Jaelen Home made them pay with a three-point play — 65-59, Lobos.
The 2 earlier Aztecs possessions: turnover, turnover.
“We simply needed to go make profitable performs, and we discovered a technique to get a pair extra profitable performs down the stretch,” Pitino mentioned. “Our protection and our rebounding actually grew this event, and we had no probability to win if we didn’t begin getting scrappy like we did. Then to have the ability to do it with out actually Donovan Dent.”
Home completed with 28 factors and was named event MVP. Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21 on a day when Dent, usually their greatest participant, was affected by the flu and spent a lot of the sport sitting on the tip of the bench with a towel over his head. His line: 13 minutes, zero factors.
“They only put (Home) in ball screens,” mentioned Dutcher, whose staff switched most of them to sluggish his penetration. “That was the sport. There weren’t any pin-down (screens) for soar photographs. There wasn’t throw the ball within the publish and get any manufacturing. It was Home downhill and if he missed it, they rebounded it. That was the sport.”
Added LeDee: “I imply, simply they hit some photographs, we didn’t. That’s all I can actually let you know from that.”
In all 10 losses this season, the Aztecs have led or trailed by some extent within the second half.
That’s the tip of video games. The begins aren’t precisely stellar, both. The Aztecs trailed by 10, 17 and 14 within the first half of their three video games in Las Vegas. Saturday was the 13th time within the final 14 video games that they’ve been behind after 5 minutes.
Dutcher was requested if that’s a viable method within the NCAA Match, when the stakes — and degree of opposition — are considerably elevated.
“Clearly everybody needs to get off to an important begin, however it’s what it’s,” Dutcher mentioned. “All we will do is create open photographs, and in the event that they go in, we’ll get off to a greater begin. We go to Jaedon early, they usually double him and he kicks it out. I believe we had a few wide-open appears to be like off publish doubles early, and when you make them, impulsively you’re off and operating.
“In the event that they don’t go in, we don’t give in, which I like about this staff. We perceive that it’s a 40-minute sport and that if you’re going to be behind, the perfect time to be behind is early. So that you’ve acquired time to battle again, and we fought again in each sport.”
Notable
It’s New Mexico’s fifth Mountain West event title. SDSU nonetheless leads with seven.
• LeDee’s 81 factors this week shattered the earlier college scoring file within the Mountain West event, 62 by Chase Tapley in 2012.
• LeDee (11 of 11) broke the event file for many free throws and not using a miss.
• LeDee was the one Aztecs participant on the all-tournament staff, joined by Home, Mashburn, Toppin and Utah State’s Nice Osobor.
• The flamable Home had been on his greatest habits all afternoon, till he had a layup blocked from behind by Reese Waters halfway by means of the second half and complained a bit too robustly to official Michael Irving. That earned him a technical foul.
• The opposite officers: Gregory Nixon and Verne Harris.