March 6, 2002
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - San Diego State gave No. 2-seeded New Mexico all it wanted for 37 minutes but the Lobos pulled away down the stretch to defeat the Aztecs, 65-52, in the opening game of the 2002 EAS Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday.
San Diego State (10-18, 2-12 MWC), the tournament's No. 7 seed, led for much of the first half and was down by just 32-27 at intermission. But the Aztecs struggled out of the gate after the break, allowing New Mexico to build a 14-point lead with just under seven minutes to go before rallying to make the game close.
Tanisha Knight connected on consecutive back-to-back possessions and Claire Swinbank hit three straight free throws and a field goal to spark a 9-0 Aztec run that closed the Lobo's edge to just 50-45 with three minutes showing on the clock.
But San Diego State could draw no closer as the Lobos sank 11-of-13 attempts from the stripe as time wound down to keep the Aztecs at bay.
"The game was right there but we just couldn't finish the deal," said SDSU head coach Barb Smith. "It's been the story of our season. We've played everybody within six or seven points but then we have to start fouling at the end and today (New Mexico) hit its free throws."
Swinbank tied for game-high scoring honors with 16 points and Jamey Cox added 12 to lead the Aztecs on the scoreboard. Knight finished with 11 points before fouling out with 24 seconds to go.
Three other Aztecs would end up leaving the game after fouling out, including Atim Otii, who played just 13 minutes and scored just two points due to foul trouble.
Jordan Adams scored 16 points to pace New Mexico (22-7, 10-4 MWC), which out-rebounded SDSU, 44-25. The Lobos also finished the game a combined 18-for-24 from the free throw line.
"Early foul trouble in the post hurt us," Smith said. "But we got some good shots to open the second half. We just couldn't hit them. And that was the breaking point right there. We dug ourselves too big a hole and it was just too much to come back from."