Nov. 21, 2010
OXFORD, Ohio -
No. 25 San Diego State-IUPUI Game Notes in PDF Format | SDSU-IUPUI Broadcast Flip Card in PDF Format
No. 25 San Diego State Puts Perfect Record on the Line Sunday Against IUPUI at the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic
No. 25 San Diego State, which overcame a sluggish start on Saturday vs. Green Bay, puts its perfect 3-0 record on the line vs. IUPUI Sunday evening in the Oxford, Ohio, Subregional of the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. The 5:30 p.m. ET contest represents the first of two scheduled meetings this year between the Aztecs and Jaguars. The two squads will meet again at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic on Dec. 22.
The fourth of five consecutive season-opening games away from Viejas Arena can be heard in Southern California on AM 600 KOGO with Ted Leitner handling the play-by-play duties. There is no television coverage for the event.
Just four days after beating No. 11/12 Gonzaga on its home floor, San Diego State found itself in an uncomfortable position in the first game of the Oxford Subregional vs. Green Bay. The Phoenix scored the first four points of the game and raced out to a 28-6 lead with 11 minutes, 15 seconds remaining the first half. The Aztecs eventually found their rhythm, got to within five at halftime and ultimately capped their 22-point rally to record the 79-70 victory. The comeback was the largest in a victory during the Steve Fisher era, which covers 11-plus seasons. Prior to Saturday, the largest rally for a win was an 18-point comeback vs. Monmouth on Nov. 22, 2004.
San Diego State, despite being down 22 points in the first half, still shot 50.0 percent from the field (12-24 FG) and an even better 70.8 percent in the second half (17-24 FG). For the evening, the Aztecs shot 60.4 percent (29-48 FG), marking the third time in as many games SDSU has finished over the 50.0 percent mark this year. Leading the way for San Diego State was preseason Wooden and Naismith award candidate Kawhi Leonard, who finished with his third consecutive double-double after producing game-high figures of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Leonard's classmate, sophomore Chase Tapley, added 14 points and a team-high three assists, while senior forward Malcolm Thomas turned in 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
SDSU, which is ranked for the second consecutive week, is 3-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign and looking to move to 4-0 for the first time since that same season. Prior to this season, the Aztecs had never been ranked in either of the two major college polls (AP, Coaches) and opened the year ranked 25th in the Associated Press preseason poll. After beating Long Beach State on the road to start the campaign, San Diego State maintained its No. 25 position when the first regular-season poll was released on Monday.
IUPUI comes into Sunday's tilt with a record of 1-2 and is coming off a heartbreaking, 59-58, loss to the hosts, Miami RedHawks. The Jaguars were led by Alex Young's game-high 23 points and Stephen Thomas' 11 points. IUPUI held a one-point lead at halftime, but could not hold on for the win.