Dec. 30, 2003
Complete Game Notes vs. Portland (Wed., Dec. 31) in PDF Format
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Game No. 13
Portland (6-5) at San Diego State (7-5)
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003
1:05 p.m. PST
Cox Arena (12,414)
San Diego, Calif.
Television
There no live television coverage for the game.
Radio
XPRS-1090 AM, San Diego (The Mighty 1090). John Fricke (play-by-play), John Kentera (analysis), Dave Marcus (producer).
Game Tracker
Real time stats for the game between Portland and San Diego State will be available via the San Diego State website at goaztecs.com.
Series
Portland leads the series 5-1 and has won the last five meetings between the teams including last season's 91-86 decision at Portland.
Tickets
Tickets range in price from $8-16 and are available on the SDSU website (goaztecs.com), at the Cox Arena ticket office or at any Ticketmaster (619-220-TIXS) outlet.
Aztecs Look to Snap Season-Long Two-Game Losing Streak and End '03 on Winning Note with Wednesday Afternoon Game vs. Portland
San Diego State (7-5) looks to rebound from a season-long two-game losing streak, and avoid consecutive non-conference home losses for the first time since 1988 when the Aztecs play the final game of 2003 on Wednesday afternoon against Portland (6-5). Game time is set for 1:05 p.m. PST at Cox Arena and for just the second time this season an Aztec game will not be televised but can be heard on XPRS-1090 AM (The Mighty 1090).
This is the second game of a season-long three-game home stand for the Aztecs. San Diego State is in a stretch of playing seven of nine games at home, including four of the next five contests. The Aztecs play just one road game (at Arizona on Dec. 22) in a 24-day span between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5.
The Aztecs are coming off a disappointing 92-81 loss to Pac-10 foe Washington on Saturday night. The Huskies, which had a week of to prepare, shot 52.5 percent from the field and out-rebounded San Diego State 36-25 to claim the victory. The -11-rebound margin was the worst for an SDSU squad since the 2001 NCAA Tournament game against Illinois (-15). The loss snapped a 14-game December home winning streak against non-ranked teams dating back to Dec. 9, 2000.
The loss overshadowed individual highlights for San Diego State, including a 23-point effort by freshman Brandon Heath. Heath scored 10 consecutive points for the Aztecs as SDSU cut a 15-point deficit to four points with a 15-4 run in the second half. Senior forward Aerick Sanders continued his sensational play with 18 points, on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, and eight rebounds. Junior guard Wesley Stokes also scored in double figures with 13 points and a season-high tying nine assists.
Coupled with the loss at fifth-ranked Arizona on Mon., Dec. 22, San Diego State has lost consecutive games for the first time this season and enters a game riding a two-game losing streak for the first time in its last 15 games.
Portland improved to 6-5 on Monday night with a 77-72 victory at Boise State. The Pilots already own victories over Nevada, at New Mexico, at Oregon State and at Boise State. Sophomore guard Eugene Jeter, who averages 17.0 ppg, and scored a game-high 24 points in the victory over the Broncos, leads the Pilots.
Portland has had a decisive edge in the series, winning five of the six all-time meetings with the Aztecs. Last season, the Pilots recorded a 91-86 victory on Nov. 27, 2002 at the Chiles Center in Portland. The Aztecs were whistled for 36 fouls in the contest and Portland was 38-for-53 from the free throw line in the game. This will mark just the second meeting between the teams since Dec. 23, 1964.
This will mark just the second time Portland and San Diego State have met in San Diego, with the Aztecs winning the previous encounter, an 82-60 decision on Jan. 6, 1965.
The Aztecs will conclude a three-game homestand against Iowa State. The Cyclones, who play at Virginia on Wednesday, are 7-0 on the season and one of 13 unbeaten Division I teams through Sunday's games.