Feb. 10, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - Mohamed Abukar scored 19 points and San Diego State matched its best start in 22 years Saturday with a 81-66 rout of slumping Colorado State.
Richie Williams added 18 points for the Aztecs (17-7, 6-4 Mountain West), who led by as many as 23 on their way to their fourth straight win.
The Rams (14-9, 4-7) lost their fifth straight.
Fresh off their biggest upset in 19 years, a 62-41 rout of 15th-ranked Air Force on Tuesday night, the Aztecs secured their fifth straight win over the Rams with a 24-4 run that gave them a 67-44 lead with nine minutes left.
Baskets by Abukar started and ended the run, which began with the Aztecs clinging to a 43-40 lead.
The run included four straight 3-pointers, two by Kyle Spain and one each from Williams and Brandon Heath (14 points). Jerome Habel added 10 points for the Aztecs.
The Rams failed to snap out of their February funk that has become an all-too-common sight in Fort Collins. Colorado State has seen promising seasons fall apart in each of coach Dale Layer's previous three seasons with losing streaks of at least seven games, all against conference opponents.
Tyler Smith led the Rams with 16 points, Jason Smith added 13 and Tim Denson had 11.
Jason Smith, leading the Rams in scoring average (16.5) and rebounding (8.9) came off the bench for the second straight game.