Dec. 9, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
No. 14/15 San Diego State-San Diego Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card
No. 14/15 San Diego State In Search of Fifth Straight Win Against San Diego in City Championship Game Saturday Night
Following a successful trip to Northern California, one in which No. 14/15 San Diego State (9-0) defeated California by 20, the Aztecs return to Montezuma Mesa to open a three-game homestand Saturday night against cross-town foe San Diego (1-7) inside Viejas Arena.
The 42nd City Championship game is set for 7 p.m. PT will be televised live by Channel 4 San Diego with Mark Neely and Jim Brogan on the call. Ted Leitner is set to handle radio duties and can be heard in Southern California on AM 600 KOGO.
SDSU is 9-0 for the first time in 90 seasons of basketball and comes after it turned a two-point game at halftime into a 20-point rout against the Golden Bears in Berkeley, Calif. The victory snapped a 20-game losing road skid to Pac-10 Conference opponents and halted a 19-game road losing streak vs. teams from power-six leagues. The Aztecs had four players score in double figures and were led by sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard's game-high 20 points, which marked his fourth 20-point effort of the season. Sophomore guard James Rahon knocked down a trio of three-pointers and scored 11 points in the first half en route to 15 points in just 17 minutes off the bench. Just the opposite, senior guard D.J. Gay saved all of his production for the second half and scored all 14 of his points in the frame. Classmate Billy White, meanwhile, added 10 points and shared game-high honors with Malcolm Thomas as both had four assists.
The Aztecs enter the City Championship having won four straight in the series, four consecutive at Viejas Arena and 24 of the 42 all-time meetings, including 17 of the 25 with SDSU as the designated home team. The games between the two schools have produce some compelling games as the last five have been decided by 11 points or less, including last season's overtime thriller in which San Diego State emerged with a 69-62 victory at Jenny Craig Pavilion. Both Gay and White have participated in three straight SDSU victories and are looking to become just the fourth and fifth Aztecs to have beaten USD four years in a row. An Aztec win would put the senior duo in elite company and they would join San Diego State legends Michael Cage, Eddy Gordon and Eddie Morris as the only other players in school history to have accomplished the feat.
The Toreros head east on Interstate 8 having lost seven straight and were on the wrong end of a 74-70 score this past Tuesday against Fresno State at home. San Diego is 0-3 on the road this season having dropped games at Stanford, New Mexico and Cal State Fullerton. USD last tasted victory in its season opener against Occidental College, a team that visits Montezuma Mesa on Dec. 31. Fourth-year head coach Bill Grier has three players averaging double figures in scoring, including Darian Norris, who is scoring at a 11.1 clip.