March 20, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Kyle Spain scored 16 points and Richie Williams added 14 as the pair keyed a second-half surge to lead San Diego State to a 70-52 win over Kansas State in the second round of the NIT on Friday night.
San Diego State (25-9) set a school record for wins and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals, marking the first time in its Division I history the Aztecs advanced beyond the second round of a national postseason tournament.
Denis Clemente led Kansas State (22-12) with 12 points, but the Wildcats' leading scorer made just 5 of 15 shots. Kansas State never led and never recovered after falling behind by 10 points six minutes into the second half.
Billy White added 15 points for the Aztecs, who shot 53.1 percent and held the Wildcats to just 31.7 percent shooting.
Spain and Williams led San Diego State's second-half run that saw the Aztecs increase their 27-25 halftime lead to double digits six minutes in the half.