Feb 24, 2004
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Wesley Stokes scored 18 points, handed out five assists and came up with a crucial steal to lead San Diego State to a 72-64 victory over Colorado State Monday night in a Mountain West Conference game at Cox Arena.
The win was the second in a row for the Aztecs (14-12, 5-6). Colorado State (11-14, 3-9) dropped its sixth in a row.
Colorado State, trailing 63-52 with 5:46 remaining, went on a 12-3 run sparked by Dwight Boatner and Matt Nelson to close the gap to 66-64 with only 1:29 left.
But after hitting one of two free throws, Stokes picked off a Boatner pass intended for Jon Rakiecki. He missed the layup, but Marcus Slaughter was there to rebound the ball and put it in the basket for a 69-64 lead with 50 seconds left.
Slaughter finished the game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Teammate Aerick Sanders had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Ronnie Clark led Colorado State with 17 points, while Nelson had 16 points and six rebounds and Boatner 13 points.
Stokes scored nine of his 18 points in the first half including a 15-foot jumper with four seconds left that broke a 32-32 tie.
The game had seven lead changes, with Colorado State leading for the last time at 42-41 early in the second half.