March 20, 2015
Recap | McGrane: SDSU Not About to Shrink From Duke's Shadow | Notebook
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -
Final Score: [8] San Diego State 76, [9] St. John's 64
Records: [8] San Diego State 27-8, [9] St. John's 21-12
Next Game: vs. [1] Duke, Sunday, March 22, Approximately 2:40 p.m. ET, CBS, Time Warner Cable Arena
NCAA Tournament Notes
• Steve Fisher, who is coaching in his 15th NCAA tournament (eighth at SDSU), improves to 26-13 in NCAA tourney games.
• SDSU has won at least one NCAA tournament game in four of the last five seasons (6-4).
• Since 2011, San Diego State's six NCAA tournament game victories ranks tied for 16th nationally, with among others, Duke
• One of eight schools to advance to each of the last six NCAA tournaments, the Aztecs are in the round of 32 for the fourth time in five seasons.
• SDSU is off to the Round of 32 for the third straight year. The Aztecs are one of nine school to advance to the round of 32 each of the last three seasons.
• Fisher's teams are now 9-6 in its first NCAA tournament game and SDSU is 4-1 in the first NCAA outing the last five seasons.
• The Aztecs are 6-4 in their last 10 NCAA tournament games. Prior to their .600 clip, they were 0-6.
• San Diego State improves to 6-10 all-time in Division I NCAA tournament games. All six wins have come under the direction of Fisher.
• The Aztecs are 6-7 in the NCAA tournament under Fisher, but they were 0-3 in their first three NCAA appearances.
• San Diego State has won three of its last four games when it is the higher seed.
• With the eight seed, today's victory marks the lowest-seeded Aztec team to ever claim an NCAA tournament victory.
Team Notes
• SDSU has now responded from its last 18 losses with a win in the game that immediately followed. That is the longest streak in the country.
• The Aztecs have gone 81 straight games without suffering a two-game losing streak, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
• San Diego State wins its 27th game of the season, which is the third-highest single-season total in school history.
• The Aztecs are 25-11 in their last 36 neutral-site games.
• SDSU moves to 36-12 in its last 48 games played during the month of March.
• San Diego State has won eight consecutive games that have been played on a Friday.
• Overall the Aztecs are 5-1 in their last six games, 9-2 in their last 11 and 12-3 in their last 15.
• San Diego State wins in the Eastern Time Zone for the first time since claiming a 70-55 victory over Oklahoma in the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament in Philadelphia (March 22, 2013).
• San Diego State improves to 3-0 in the Division I era in games played on March 20. The Aztecs defeated Kansas State, 70-52, in a second round NIT game at Jenny Craig Pavilion in 2009 (SDSU hosted the NCAA First and Second Round Women's Basketball Championship that season) and defeated New Mexico State, 73-69 in overtime, in a second round NCAA game last season.
SDSU vs. St. John's/Big East Notes
• Fisher improves to 2-1 all-time vs. St. John's and has won two straight vs. the Red Storm, but the win is his first since Dec. 11, 1996.
• Fisher is 10-4 vs. current members of the Big East and has won three straight vs. the current membership after beating Creighton and Marquette on neutral floors last year.
• SDSU earns its fourth all-time victory vs. the current Big East, improving to 4-15. Under Fisher, the Aztecs are winners of three straight and are 3-3 vs. the current Big East alignment.
Game Notes
• With the victory, each of San Diego State's three fifth-year seniors defeated their previous school this season - JJ O'Brien vs. Utah, Aqeel Quinn vs. CSUN and Dwayne Polee II vs. St. John's.
• SDSU won its 145th straight game when leading with five minutes to play.
• Four Aztecs reached double figures in scoring for the first time since the game vs. Fresno State on Jan. 27.
• San Diego State improved to 19-4 this season when outrebounding its opponent.
• The Aztecs improve to 15-3 this season and have won 10 straight games when shooting between 40-50 percent from the floor.
• SDSU made nine three-pointers, which equaled its total from its previous two games.
Player Notes
JJ O'Brien - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Reached double figures in scoring for the first time of his career in the NCAA tournament... His previous NCAA tourney high was seven points last season vs. New Mexico State... He came into the NCAA tourney with 25 career points and eight field goals, and finished with 18 points and eight baskets, respectively... Posted his 19th double-digit scoring performance of the season and the 46th of his career... Led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season and the for the 12th time of his career.
Dwayne Polee II - 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in five career NCAA tournament games... Has scored at least 12 points in every NCAA tournament games he has played in and came into the tournament with a career 13.8 scoring average... Scored in double figures in the first half alone for his eighth double-figure scoring effort of the season and the 28th of his career... Entered the NCAA tournament with six career three-pointers (6-for-12) and finished with five in the game... Had a game-high three steals after being held without one for three straight games.
Matt Shrigley - 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Set a personal NCAA tournament high with 12 points... His previous NCAA tournament career high was six points vs. New Mexico State last season... Knocked down at least three three-pointers in a game for the first time since the game at Nevada on Feb. 4... It was his seventh game this season with at least a trio of three-pointers... Was 4-for-5 from deep after going 4-for-17 in his previous five games.
Skylar Spencer - 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 steal
Set a new personal record for points in an NCAA tournament game with a season-high 10... Prior to tonight, his NCAA tournament career high was five points vs. Arizona last season in the Sweet 16... His scoring output was his highest since scoring 10 vs. Ball State on Dec. 20... Posted his second double-figure scoring effort of the season and the eighth of his career... It is his first game with at least 10 points since he scored 10 vs. Ball State... Led the team in rebounding for the 12th time this season (15th career)... His seven boards tied his NCAA tournament career high set in his last outing vs. Arizona last season.
Malik Pope - 6 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot
Grabbed a team-high seven rebounds... His rebounding effort tied his career high originally set at Colorado State on Jan. 24... Scored six points and is averaging 9.5 points in his last two games.
Aqeel Quinn - 2 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists
Equaled his season high with five assists... He also had five assists vs. Nevada in the team's final home game of the season.