Jan. 27, 2007
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SAN DIEGO (AP) - Jerome Habel scored 17 points as San Diego State overcame an 11-point second half deficit and beat Utah, 63-53, Saturday afternoon.
The victory snapped the Aztecs two-game losing streak and left them with a 14-7 overall record, 3-4 in the conference. Utah, which had won its last two games, is 7-13 (2-5 in MCW).
Utah, sparked by Johnnie Bryant's three straight three-pointers, went on a 15-4 run to open the second half to take a 40-29 lead with 15:40 left. However, San Diego State followed with an 11-0 run highlighted by Habel's reverse slam that tied the game at 40-40 with 11 minutes left.
Lorenzo Wade, who had 12 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five assists for the Aztecs finished off what was an 18-4 run with a three-point dunk play. That put San Diego State up 47-42 with 5:10 left in the game.
Utah, which went 5:38 without a point midway through the second half, did close to within two points at 49-47 on a pair of free-throws by Bryant. But the Aztecs finished the game with a 14-6 run connecting on 10 of its last 12 free throws and wound up outscoring the Utes, 34-13, over the final 15:55.
Bryant finished with a game-high 18 points for Utah while Luke Nevill had 11 points and Shaun Green six points and 11 rebounds.
Brandon Heath scored 14 points for the Aztecs while Mohamed Abukar, who missed the UNLV game Tuesday with a bruised left knee, scored 12. Richie Williams, who had six points, also came up with a career-high six steals along with five assists for the Aztecs.