Feb 2, 2002
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Randy Holcomb scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half and San Diego State beat New Mexico 78-65 Saturday, the Aztecs' first win in The Pit in 18 years.
Holcomb scored nine straight points to give San Diego State (13-8,2-4 Mountain West) the lead for good at 61-59 with 5:03 left.
New Mexico (13-7, 3-3) hit only one field goal in the final 6.5 minutes as the Aztecs closed the game with a 19-4 run.
Mike Mackell added a career-high 21 points for San Diego State, 16 of them in the first half.
New Mexico had beaten the Aztecs 10 straight times and had won 18 of the last 19 meetings dating back to 1991. But the Lobos could not defend Holcomb in the second half and missed a bevy of open shots.
None more than Ruben Douglas, the Lobos' leading scorer. He hit just 1 of 12 shots, his worst shooting game since transferring here from Arizona two years ago.
Jamaal Williams with 16 points and Patrick Dennehy with 15 points led the Lobos. Each also had 9 rebounds.
The game was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands 12 times before Holcomb took over the game. His streak of 9 straight points included a left-handed bank shot, a 3-point play, a score off a goaltending call and a 15-foot jumper. He later added a 3-pointer to give the Aztecs a 69-61 lead with 2:36 left.
San Diego State's last previous win in Albuquerque was a 74-68 victory in January 1984.
The loss was the 16th at home for New Mexico in coach Fran Fraschilla's three seasons here.