Jan. 31, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Danny Granger, seemingly back at full speed after undergoing surgery on his left knee three weeks ago, scored 21 points as New Mexico beat San Diego State 88-71 Monday night.
Granger, who injured the knee in the Lobos' win over Wyoming on Jan. 8, missed three games, all of which New Mexico lost. He returned Saturday to help New Mexico beat UNLV and hit 6 of 10 shots and had 9 rebounds and three blocks against San Diego State.
Granger, who had 11 points and 10 rebounds but played tentatively in the 62-58 win over UNLV, was more aggressive and back in a grove against the Aztecs.
New Mexico (16-5, 3-3 Mountain West) pulled away from the Aztecs (9-10, 3-3 MWC) late in the first half with an 18-5 run.
Granger's return to form and the Lobos' defense on the Aztecs' two leading scorers, Marcus Slaughter and Brandon Heath, were the difference.
Slaughter, who came in averaging 17.9 points and 9 rebounds a game, failed to score in the first half and finished with a season-low 11 points. But he did keep intact his streak of having scored in double figures in every game this season.
But by the time Slaughter got his first points, a pair of free throws with 17:32 left in the game, New Mexico had a 14-point lead. Slaughter took only seven shots and hit just two.
Heath, the team's leading scorer (18.6 points), also scored 11 and hit just 3 of 12 shots.
Chris Walton led the Aztecs with 14 points. Slaughter had 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year.
There were six ties and seven lead changes in the first 15 minutes. A 3-pointer by Alfred Neale put the Lobos in front for good at 26-23 with 7:31 left in the opening period. Moments later, Granger connected on a 3-pointer and after San Diego State guard Tyler Smith hit a 3, the Lobos scored eight straight points.
Mark Walters hit a reverse layup, Tony Danridge had a slam, Granger scored from the top of the key and Troy DeVries hit a layup.
A layup by Walters and a 3-pointer by DeVries to open the second half made it 45-31 and the Aztecs got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Neale added 20 points, hitting 7 of 8 shots, while DeVries scored 18 and Walters 13.