Men's Basketball

San Diego State-Pomona-Pitzer Postgame Notes

San Diego State-Pomona-Pitzer Postgame NotesSan Diego State-Pomona-Pitzer Postgame Notes

Dec. 31, 2009

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

SAN DIEGO -

SDSU-Pomona-Pitzer Postgame Notes in PDF Format

Final Score: San Diego State 89, Pomona-Pitzer 54
Records:  San Diego State: 11-3; Pomona-Pitzer: 4-5
Next Game: Tuesday, Jan. 5, vs. New Mexico | Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl | 7:30 p.m. PT | TV: The Mtn. | Radio: AM 600 KOGO

TEAM NOTES

  • San Diego State improves to 11-3 overall, matching its best start after 14 games in the last 25 seasons. The last time the Aztecs had a better record after 14 games was when the 1984-85 squad opened 12-2 and ended the campaign 23-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. That season, SDSU played eight home games, two neutral games and four road games in its first 14 contests. This season, the Aztecs have played seven home games and seven road games in their first 14 contests of the season.
  • San Diego State has won three straight games and eight of its last nine (8-1) contests.
  • San Diego State ends the month of December with a 7-1 record. That is the highest winning percentage (.875) in any month for the Aztecs since going 8-0 in November of 2006. That squad finished 22-11 and advanced to the second round of the NIT.
  • San Diego State has won 12 consecutive home games. The current streak is the sixth longest in school history (full list can be found on page 121 of the media guide) and is the longest since the Aztecs won 13 straight at home from Jan. 13, 2007 until Jan. 9, 2008.
  • San Diego State has won 15 consecutive non-conference home games. The current streak is tied for the second longest in school history (full list can be found on page 121 of the media guide), and is the longest since the Aztecs won 15 straight from Nov. 27, 1981 until Dec. 30, 1982 (ended that date).
  • San Diego State has won 22 consecutive home games against teams from the state of California. That streak dates back to a home loss to Saint Mary's on Dec. 14, 2004. Since that time, the Aztecs have knocked off Cal State Fullerton in 2004-05, Point Loma Nazarene, UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount in 2005-06, UC San Diego, California, UC Riverside, San Diego and Loyola Marymount in 2006-07, UC San Diego and UC Riverside in 2007-08, UC San Diego, Fresno State, San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge and Saint Mary's in 2008-09 and UC San Diego, Santa Clara, Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside and Pomona-Pitzer in 2009-10.
  • San Diego State has won 15 consecutive home games played during the month of December.
  • San Diego State has won 21 of its last 22 home games (21-1) and 41 of its last 46 home games (41-5).
  • Overall, San Diego State is 75-27 (73.5 percent) in its last 102 games, from Jan. 11, 2006 through today.
  • The Aztecs end the decade with a record of 180-137 (56.8 percent). That is even more impressive when you consider the Aztecs opened the decade by winning their first game, before losing their next 17. The Aztecs owned a 1-17 record after 18 games to open the 00s.

GAME NOTES

  • The Aztecs committed a Viejas Arena record-low three turnovers (previous record was six, set twice and last in SDSU's game against Air Force on Feb. 7, 2009).
  • SDSU was 12-for-13 from the free-throw line today. The 92.3 free-throw percentage is tied for the third-best by an Aztec team in Viejas Arena. San Diego State entered the game shooting just 58.4 percent from the charity stripe.
  • San Diego State set or tied season-highs today in points (89, tied), field goal attempts (66, tied), free-throw percentage (92.3), fewest personal fouls (8), assists (22), fewest turnovers (3), second half points (49) and second half scoring margin (26).
  • San Diego State made a change to the starting five marking the third consecutive game that the Aztecs have made a change to the starters from the previous game. The Aztecs started two freshman tonight - Chase Tapley and Kawhi Leonard. Tapley made his third career start and the Aztecs are 3-0 in those games.
  • San Diego State improves to 9-0 this season and 138-35 under Steve Fisher when ahead at the half. The Aztecs have won their last 12 games when ahead after 20 minutes.
  • The Aztecs have won 64 consecutive games when ahead with five minutes to play in the second half.
  • SDSU hasn't trailed in the second half at Viejas Arena since March 7, 2009, when it was down to UNLV, 32-31, with 13:42 left. The Aztecs, who ended up winning that game, 57-46, haven't trailed in the second half over the nine home games since.
  • San Diego State scored first today and is now 9-2 this season when striking first.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

  • Kawhi Leonard - 17 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists: Leonard posted his seventh double-figure scoring game of the season and third straight game with at least 10 points... SDSU is now 7-0 when he scores at least 10 points in a game... The freshman led the team in rebounding for the eighth time this year, a stat that leads the team... Leonard posted his fifth double-double of his career... His five assists tied a season/career high.
  • Malcolm Thomas - 15 points, 7 rebounds: Thomas nailed his first three-point attempt of his career in the second half... He recorded his fifth multiple block game of the season; he has eight in his last two games... His two steals tied his career high... Thomas entered the double-figure scoring column for fifth time this season and for the first time since scoring 15 at UC Santa Barbara.
  • Brian Carlwell - 13 points, 6 rebounds: Carlwell notched his second double-figure scoring effort of his career and his first since scoirng 10 vs. Cal State Fullerton... His 13 points is a new career high... He tied his career-high rebound mark with six.
  • Billy White - 13 points: White posted his ninth double-figure scoring game of the season and the 36th of his career with 13 points... He has reached the double-figure plateau in scoring in three straight games.
  • Alec Williams - 11 points, 3-for-3 FG (1-for-1 3FG), 4-for-4 FT: Williams set a career high in points (11), field goals (3), free throws (4) and assists (1).
  • D.J. Gay - 10 points: Gay posted his ninth double-figure scoring performance of 2009-10 and his 28th of his career... He recorded his eighth game with at least a pair of three-pointers.
  • Chase Tapley - 5 points, 9 assists, 3 steals: Tapley established a career high after finishing with nine assists... The nine assists are the most by an Aztec this season... He led the team in assists for just the second time this year... His three steals were a career best... The freshman started his third career game.