Dec 6, 2001
By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The San Diego Toreros are always perceived as the underdogs against San Diego State, yet they continue to dominate the cross-town rivalry.
Andre Laws scored 25 points and the Toreros beat the Aztecs 72-67 Wednesday night, the Toreros' fourth straight win over the Aztecs.
The Toreros (3-3) have beaten the Aztecs 11 of 13 times dating to 1985.
"Yeah, we have a chip on our shoulder, and we're pretty angry about the whole situation," San Diego forward Tom Lippold said. "They keep on getting the recruits, but we still hang in there. Over the years, I think we'll still do that."
San Diego coach Brad Holland improved to 5-1 against the Aztecs, while SDSU's Steve Fisher remains winless in three games in the rivalry.
"We're not big and we don't shoot very well, but we scrap against athletic teams on the boards," Holland said. "That's how we have to win."
San Diego outrebounded the Aztecs 35-31 and generally outhustled the Aztecs.
"The better team won again," Fisher said. "I'm bitterly disappointed in how we played in the second half. I don't know how many rebounds and loose balls they beat us to, but they did."
Holland said he thinks San Diego State will have a winning season, something that's rare for the Aztecs, but added: "This was a very nice win for us."
Al Faux scored a season-high 25 for San Diego State (4-3).
Lippold's third 3-pointer of the second half, with 12:30 left, gave San Diego the lead for good at 46-45. Lippold, who was just 2-of-7 on the season from 3-point range, finished with 17 points.
After trailing 37-29 at halftime, the Toreros opened the second half with six straight points, four by Jason Blair and two by Laws, to pull to 37-35. Lippold's 3-pointers, coupled with SDSU going scoreless for 2{ minutes, helped the Toreros take the lead.
San Diego was 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 47.1 seconds, including four by Laws.
Blair scored 13 for San Diego. Randy Holcomb had 14 points and 10 rebounds for San Diego State, while guard Tony Bland, who scored at least 20 points in each of the Aztecs' first six games, was held to 10.