Feb. 18, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
No. 6 San Diego State-Air Force Game Notes in PDF Format | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card in PDF Format
San Diego State Looks to Set School Record for Victories in a Venue Where It Has Only Won Twice Since 2004; Face Air Force Saturday Afternoon
San Diego State (26-1 overall; 11-1 MWC), which owns the nation's best record (Ohio State is 25-1), has won a school-record 35 consecutive games against unranked teams and won a MWC-best six straight games (12th-longest active streak in the country), hits the road for a Saturday afternoon showdown with Air Force (13-11; 4-7 MWC).
Game time is set for noon MT/11 a.m. PT at Clune Arena and the contest will be televised by The Mtn. (San Diego Cox Cable 320, DirecTV 616, Orange County Cox Cable 265, Las Vegas Cox Cable 334). The game can also be heard on radio in Southern California on AM 600 KOGO.
The Aztecs ran their home-court winning streak to 18 games on Wednesday night with a workman-like 68-62 victory over New Mexico. San Diego State led the final 27:26 of the game and built a 14-point advantage midway through the second half before settling for the six-point win. Sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard led the team in points (22), rebounds (9) and assists (3). It is the second time this season he has led the Aztecs in all three categories. Senior forward Malcolm Thomas scored a season-high 22 points, while adding six rebounds and four blocked shots. Senior point guard D.J. Gay's run of consecutive turnover-free minutes ended at 177, but the Cousy Award finalist still managed to score 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, and chipped in three assists and two steals in 40 minutes of action.
San Diego State, which was plus-8 in turnover margin, struggled to get to the line in the first 20 minutes (two attempts), but reversed the trend in the second half and got to the line 29 times after intermission.
The Aztecs' effort marked the fourth consecutive game in which San Diego State has shot at least 20 free throws after doing so just once in the previous 12 games.
Through Thursday's games, SDSU ranked seventh in fewest fouls committed (15.1), 10th nationally in scoring defense (58.7), 10th in fewest turnovers per game (10.8), 18th in rebound margin (+6.2), 25th in field-goal percentage (47.5) and 20th in field-goal percentage defense (39.4).
San Diego State and Air Force are meeting for the 66th time with the Aztecs owning a 45-20 series lead. SDSU has claimed six straight in the series and the last two encounters at Clune Arena. Earlier this season, the Aztecs were a 68-55 winners over the Academy, although the Falcons led by as many as six points following the last media timeout of the first half. Gay connected on six three-point field goals en route to a 20-point performance. Leonard posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Following the game, San Diego State will return home Saturday night and begin preparation for the Saturday, Feb. 26, home game against seventh-ranked Brigham Young. Either Saturday night or Sunday morning, SDSU's media availability for the week will be sent out to local media. Contact the media relations office if you have any questions.