Dec. 29, 2009
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SAN DIEGO -- Billy White scored 13 points as San Diego State held off UC Riverside 58-53 Tuesday night.
The Aztecs (10-3) have won seven of their last eight and hold an 8-0 all-time record against the Highlanders (6-6).
UC Riverside, which trailed by as many as 10 points early in the second half, closed to within 54-53 on a jump shot by Kyle Austin with 44 seconds left. Austin led the Highlanders with 19 points.
Kawhi Leonard, who scored the Aztecs' final six points, hit a pair of free throws to restore San Diego State's three-point lead.
Malcolm Thomas blocked Austin's 3-point attempt with 2.7 seconds left and Leonard made two more free throws.
White scored nine of his 13 points in the first half, including the final eight of the half as San Diego State went on a 10-1 run to move into a 29-20 lead.
Leonard was the only other Aztec to join White in double figures with 12 points. However, Leonard was 5-for-9 from the free-throw line, where San Diego State struggled all night. The Aztecs went 17-for-34, which helped keep the Highlanders in the game. UC Riverside was 8-for-12 from the charity stripe.
The Aztecs led by 10 points on two occasions in the second half, 36-26 and 42-32, before Austin led the Highlanders back into contention.
San Diego State has won 21 consecutive home games against teams from California. Their last loss was to Saint Mary's on Dec. 14, 2004.