January 2, 1999
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Vincent Okotie scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half Saturday night as San Diego State rallied for a 68-63 victory over Pacific - its first win over a Division I school this season.
The Aztecs (2-10) overcame a 44-39 deficit four minutes into the second half to end a five-game losing streak. Entering the game, they were off to the poorest start in school history, owning only a win over Southern California College, an NAIA school.
Okotie converted a three-point play and Marcelo Correa followed his own steal with a dunk to put the Aztecs ahead to stay at 50-46 with seven minutes left. They increased their lead to 56-49 with 4:25 to go, and then allowed Pacific no closer than four points the rest of the way.
Jason Williams had 18 points and Clay McKnight added 14 to lead the Tigers (5-5), who fell for fifth time in six games.
Williams scored the first eight points of the second half for the Tigers to give them their 44-39 lead. But they only managed 19 points the remainder of the game, including just seven points in a span of 14 minutes.
San Diego State's final 14 points came from the foul line, where they made 20-of-32. Pacific tried just 11 foul shots and made nine.
Okotie also had eight rebounds, while Donte Wilson added 12 points and Matt Watts had 10 for the Aztecs.
Watts scored all of his points in the opening 6:10 to help San Diego State take a 12-7 lead. Pacific then scored eight of the next 10 points, and neither team led by more than three points until San Diego State's David Abramowitz hit a 3-pointer for a 35-29 lead with 3:05 before halftime. The Aztecs held a 37-36 halftime advantage.