March 3, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Basketball Game Notes | SDSU Broadcast Flip Card
NEWS AND NOTES (through March 2)
* Having clinched a 12th consecutive winning season, San Diego State meets New Mexico in a game with major seeding implications on the line in the regular-season finale Saturday night in Albuquerque.
* San Diego State, which had won a record-tying three consecutive Mountain West regular-season titles and five of the last six regular-season crowns, is currently tied with the Lobos for fifth place in the league standings.
* If SDSU wins, the Aztecs will earn the five seed and will advance to Thursday's quarterfinal round (2:30 p.m. PT). If SDSU losses, the Aztecs will be the six-seed and will play in Wednesday's opening round (4 p.m. PT).
* San Diego State has won four of its last six (4-2) and six of its last nine (6-3) games.
* SDSU had a historic defensive performance on Wednesday in a 51-38 victory over Air Force to claim its 12th consecutive Senior Day victory.
* The Aztecs limited Air Force to a season-low 38 points (20 points beneath its previous low) and improved to 55-1 under Steve Fisher when holding an opponent to less than 50 points in a home game.
* San Diego State is playing its best defense of the season. During its last six games, Aztec opponents are shooting 35.4 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from three-point range and are scoring just 56.5 points per game.
* San Diego State is 7-4 in its last 11 trips to The Pit, with victories in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016 seasons. Since Feb. 4, 2006, the Aztecs are 7-4 in the building while the rest of the nation is a combined 25-149 (14.4 percent).
* The Aztecs have won four of the last five between the teams. In those games, SDSU has limited the Lobos to 56.6 points on 34.2-percent shooting (90-of-263), including 31.4 percent from beyond the arc (22-of-70).
* Despite a 9-8 league record, SDSU still owns a +64 scoring margin in MW games. In five of its eight league defeats, it has owned a lead of at least 11 points. In the other three games, it had a seven-point advantage twice and a shot at the buzzer to force overtime in the other.
* San Diego State is third in the league in conference scoring margin at +3.8.
* Combining the Aztecs' largest leads in their eight conference losses, it totals 80 points, which is an average of 10.0 points. In five of those league defeats, SDSU enjoyed a lead of at least 11 points.
* KenPom lists the Aztecs as the eighth "unluckiest" team in the country (a measure of a team's actual winning percentage and what one would expect from its game-by-game efficiencies). Among the nine unluckiest teams in the nation, SDSU and Indiana (16-14) with an above .500 record. The other eight schools are a combined 80-157 this season.
* San Diego State is 2-9 this season in games decided by eight points or less. Prior to this season, the Aztecs were 50-22 in games decided by six points or less or in overtime. One of those losses was a 68-62 loss to the Lobos on Jan. 1.
* Junior forward Malik Pope, who has accounted for nine of SDSU's 28 missed games this season due to injury, is averaging 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists during his last 10 games. During that span, he is shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range.
* Pope has tied a career-high by scoring in double figures in four consecutive games.
* Senior guard Matt Shrigley has reached double figures 21 times in his career, including three times in his last six games. He had 10 points in SDSU's victory Wednesday. SDSU is 25-2, with 11 straight wins, when he scores at least seven points in a game.
* Long known as one of the best defensive players in the country (see page 47 of the media guide), senior guard Dakarai Allen has continued his strong offensive play. In his last 10 games, he is averaging 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. During that stretch, he has made 38-of-66 attempts from the floor (57.6 percent).
* Allen leads all MW players in effective field-goal percentage in league games at 62.3 percent (minimum 75 FGA).
* Allen is one of just five players in the Steve Fisher era to record at least 300 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocked shots, joining Marcus Slaughter, Chase Tapley, Lorrenzo Wade and Billy White.
* Once again, San Diego State is the top-ranked defensive unit in the conference. In MW games only, the Aztecs rank first in points allowed (63.1), field-goal percentage defense (38.7 percent) and blocked shots (4.8 bpg), and second in steals (6.8 spg). 
* In each of the last three seasons, SDSU has led the Mountain West (all games) in points allowed per game and field-goal percentage defense. The Aztecs this season own the top defense in terms of points allowed (62.4) and field-goal percentage defense (38.7).