March 16, 2003
SAN DIEGO - For the sixth time in school's Division I history and the second consecutive season, the San Diego State men's basketball team will play in the postseason. The Aztecs will open play in the 40-team 2003 Owens Corning NIT at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against UC Santa Barbara at Cox Arena.
The winner of the San Diego State-UC Santa Barbara game will play the winner of the Nevada-Texas Tech. The date, time and location of that game have yet to be determined.
SDSU (15-13), which earned a spot in the 2002 NCAA Tournament field by winning the Mountain West tournament, will be making consecutive trips to the postseason for only the second time in school history. The Aztecs, who possess back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 18 years, are rewarded with the program's second postseason NIT appearance. SDSU lost to UC Irvine 70-69 on March 12, 1982.
UC Santa Barbara won the Big West Conference regular season title and is 18-13 this season. Last season, the Gauchos, like the Aztecs, advanced to the NCAA tournament, losing to Arizona, 86-81, in the first round.
Wednesday will mark the 84th meeting between San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara, with the Aztecs owning a 50-33 series advantage. The teams last met on Dec. 6, 2000, with the Gauchos posting an 80-77 victory in triple overtime.
The Aztecs will be looking for their first Division I postseason tournament win on Wednesday, as SDSU is 0-5 in the postseason with four NCAA Tournament losses.
Also for the second consecutive season, the Aztecs are part of a six-team Mountain West Conference contingent participating in postseason play. SDSU joins UNLV and Wyoming in the NIT field, while Utah, Brigham Young and Colorado State are in the NCAA Tournament.
Tickets are $20 and $10 for college students and youth. Season ticket holders who have already bought NIT package should use their first round ticket for admission on Wednesday. Tickets are available through the SDSU ticket office (619) 283-SDSU (7378).