Feb. 23, 2004
Complete Colorado State Game Notes (Mon., Feb. 23) in PDF Format
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Game No. 26
Colorado St. (11-13/3-8) at San Diego St. (13-12/4-6)
Monday, Feb. 23, 2004
7:05 p.m. PST announced/tip
Cox Arena (12,414)
San Diego, Calif.
Television
Channel 4 San Diego. Chris Marlowe (play-by-play), Jim Brogan (analysis), Lya Vallat (producer). The game will be seen throughout San Diego County on Channel 4 San Diego (no satellite coverage).
Radio
XPRS-1090 AM, San Diego (The Mighty 1090). John Fricke (play-by-play), John Kentera (analysis), Dave Marcus (producer).
Series
This will be the 49th meeting between the teams with Colorado State owning a 33-15 series lead. The Rams have won three straight in the series, including a 92-82 victory in two overtimes at Moby Arena earlier this season on Jan. 24. The Aztecs last victory in the series was Feb. 16, 2002.
In San Diego
The teams have split the 24 previous games played in San Diego and the four game splayed at Cox Arena. Last season, Colorado State posted a 72-69 victory at Cox Arena.
Aztecs Look for 11th Home Victory of the Season; Try to Avenge Earlier Double Overtime Loss on Monday Night vs. Colorado State
San Diego State (13-12 overall; 4-6 Mountain West Conference), winners of six of its last seven home games overall and six of its last seven league home games dating back to last season, plays host to Colorado State (11-13; 3-8 MWC) on Monday night at Cox Arena.
The game, between the last two conference tournament champions (SDSU in 2002 and Colorado State in 2003), is set for 7:05 p.m. PST and will be broadcast in the San Diego market on Channel 4 San Diego (no satellite coverage). The contest can also be heard on XPRS-1090 AM (The Mighty 1090).
On Saturday night the Aztecs snapped a season-long three-game losing streak by leading the final 36:11 en route to a 74-66 victory over Wyoming. Senior Aerick Sanders recorded his 11th double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and a school-record tying Mountain West Conference 16 rebounds. Junior forward Chris Walton chipped in 12 points and added seven rebounds and four assists in the victory.
The Aztecs won despite getting outshot and out-rebounded. San Diego State shot just 34.4 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent in the second half, but was unable to overcome 40 percent or less field goal shooting to claim a victory for the fifth time this season.
San Diego State hopes the victory was the beginning of yet another late season surge that the Aztecs have used each of the last two seasons to advance to postseason play. In 2001-02, SDSU won five of its final six regular season games before winning three straight to claim the Mountain West Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. In 2002, the Aztecs won three straight beginning one year ago yesterday (Feb. 21) to help make a run into the postseason NIT.
Colorado State is looking to make a late season run similar to last season when the Rams snapped a seven-game losing streak on March 3 against the Aztecs and proceeded to win the MWC Championship. Currently, the Rams have dropped five straight.
Monday marks the 49th meeting between the teams with Colorado State owning a 33-15 series lead. The Rams won a thrilling 92-82 double-overtime game back on Jan. 24 at Moby Arena. Michael Morris and Matt Nelson returned from injuries to score 24 and 21 points respectively for the Rams. The Aztecs were paced by freshman Brandon Heath's 26 points and Sanders double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Rams have won the last three meetings, the longest active losing streak for SDSU against any MWC foe.
Following the game, San Diego State plays its next two contests on the road, battling New Mexico on Saturday night and Air Force on Monday.