Dec. 28, 2000
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Randy Holcomb scored 19 points and Myron Epps added 18 as San Diego State held on for a 79-69 win Thursday night over Norfolk State.
San Diego State (7-3) led by 24 points four minutes into the second half before Norfolk State cut the lead to three points with 9:15 remaining.
The Aztecs, however, held on by hitting 9 of 12 free throws in the final nine minutes.
San Diego State won its third straight game for the first time since the 1996-97 season, a span of 109 games. The Aztecs also opened the season with a 7-3 record for only the second time in the last 16 seasons.
Holcomb also added a game-high 11 rebounds.
Terrence Winston, instrumental in Norfolk State's second-half comeback, led the Spartans (2-7) with 23 points and Derrick Smith added 16.
The Aztecs used a 19-2 run to take a 21-6 lead in the first half. Norfolk State, down 37-23 at halftime, went on a 25-4 run to cut the Aztecs' lead to 56-53 at the 9:15 mark after being down 52-28. Winston scored 10 points in the run.
The Spartans, losers of four straight games, trailed 74-67 when Deandre Moore hit a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to seal the victory.
Norfolk State shot 58.6 percent in the second half after hitting just 6-for-20 (30 percent) from the field in the first half.