March 14, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip
NEWS AND NOTES (through March 13)
* The three-time defending regular-season Mountain West champions begin play in an NCAA-sponsored postseason event (NCAA or NIT) for the 11th consecutive year when No. 2-seed San Diego State plays host to No. 7-seed IPFW in the first round of the NIT Tuesday night on Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena.
* General public tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. PT on game day and start at $10. Tickets are available online at GoAztecs.com and at the Viejas Arena ticket office.
* San Diego State and IPFW are meeting for the third time with the Aztecs having won both previous meetings. San Diego State claimed homecourt victories on Jan. 2, 2002 (90-72) and Dec. 30, 2002 (74-58). Both games were played in SDSU's current home, which was called Cox Arena at the time.
* As previously stated, SDSU is playing in an NCAA-sponsored postseason event (NCAA or NIT) for an 11th consecutive year. That is tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. See list below
* SDSU is looking to extend a streak of winning in the postseason. The Aztecs have won at least one game in an NCAA-sponsored postseason event (NCAA or NIT) in each of the last three seasons, which is tied for the sixth-longest active streak nationally.
* This marks San Diego State's sixth appearance in the postseason NIT and first since the 2009 campaign (the Aztecs appeared in the NCAA tournament the last six seasons). SDSU owns a 5-5 record in the event, including a 3-2 record in the first round of the event.
* San Diego State's last NIT appearance was very similar to this season. In 2009, the Aztecs were the last team left out of the NCAA tournament, earned a No. 1 seed in the NIT, and rallied from that disappointment to defeat Weber State (65-49), Kansas State (70-52) and Saint Mary's (70-66) to advance to the national semifinals in Madison Square Garden in New York City.
* San Diego State's run toward a record 11th Mountain West championship came up short as the Aztecs fell to Fresno State, 68-63, in the title game. Sophomore Malik Pope tallied his second career double-double with a game-high 19 points and career- and game-high 11 rebounds. Senior forward Winston Shepard added 15 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying seven assists.
* SDSU won its Mountain West-high 10th men's basketball title by capturing the regular-season title this season (six regular-season titles, four tournament titles). All 10 titles have come under the direction of head coach Steve Fisher, who has won four more Mountain West titles than any other coach.
* In addition to winning its fifth regular-season title in the last six seasons, SDSU claimed its sixth regular-season title of the Mountain West era, eighth regular-season conference title of the Division I era and 21st league title in school history.
* San Diego State has won 25 games this season marking the third consecutive season with at least that many wins. In addition, SDSU has won at least 23 games in eight consecutive seasons and 20 or more wins in 11 straight seasons.
* San Diego State has been exceptional in responding to defeat. SDSU is 25-1 in its last 26 games immediately following a loss. The Aztecs had won 23 straight games, which was the longest active streak nationally, until losing to No. 2/3 Kansas on Dec. 22, 2015.
* In its last 116 games, only once has SDSU suffered consecutive losses - Grand Canyon (Dec. 18, 2015) and No. 2/3 Kansas (Dec. 22, 2015).
* If San Diego State wins, the Aztecs will play host to the winner of the Washington-Long Beach State winner on either Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.