Feb. 26, 2000
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Wayland White scored 15 points and New Mexico extended San Diego State's losing streak to 14 games Saturday in a 78-49 win that moved the Lobos to within a game of Mountain West Conference leader Utah.
New Mexico (16-11, 8-4) spotted San Diego State a 5-0 lead - all on free throws - then went on a 10-2 run. San Diego State (5-20, 0-12) tied the game at 14, but New Mexico was in control the rest of the half.
A 3-pointer by Tim Lightfoot at the end of the half put New Mexico up 34-23 and the Lobos turned it into a rout by hitting seven of their first 10 shots in the second half.
While the Lobos were shooting 64 percent in the second half, the Aztecs were missing open jumpshots and committing a total of 18 turnovers.
San Diego State was led by reserve guard Jeffrey Berokoff with 11 points. The Aztecs went nearly seven minutes at the start of the game without a field goal. Berokoff ended that dry run with a 3-pointer at the 13:48 mark.
It has been a long and struggle-filled season for Steve Fisher, the first-year San Diego State coach who 11 years ago led Michigan to a national title. The Aztecs have not won since Jan. 2, and the 14-game losing streak is the second longest in school history, behind the 21-game skid during the 1991-92 season.
By contrast, New Mexico remained on a late-season surge that kept alive its post-season hopes - if not the NCAA tournament, at least a bid to the NIT. New Mexico won its fifth game in the last six and closed ground on No. 25 Utah, which lost at Colorado State earlier Saturday.
Lamont Long also scored 15 points to move into fifth place on New Mexico's career scoring list with 1,747 points.