Aztecs’ Allen Is Named WAC Player of Week

After roommate Anthony Watson was selected Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week last Monday, San Diego State center Leonard Allen started wondering if he would finish his career without ever gaining that honor.

Friday night’s game at New Mexico will be Allen’s 100th in an Aztec uniform. Yet, he had never been named WAC Player of the Week.

Until Monday.

Allen scored 40 points and had 18 rebounds last week to help lead SDSU to home victories over Utah and BYU. For his role in those victories, he was named WAC Player of the Week.

Statistically, Allen is enjoying his best season. He is averaging 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds a game. He leads the WAC in rebounds and blocked shots (37).

“I’m just so happy,” Allen said after being told he had been selected. “Next week will be Bobby’s turn.”

Aztec guard Bobby Owens rooms with Allen and Watson.

Aztec forward John Martens scrimmaged with the team during Monday afternoon’s practice and did not show the after effects of the arthroscopic surgery performed on his left knee Dec. 26.

The 6-foot 8-inch junior will accompany SDSU to Albuquerque and El Paso this weekend.

“I can’t say exactly how much time he’ll get,” Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines said, “but he’ll play.”

Gaines does not plan to immediately break up the starting forward combination of Michael Kennedy and Andre Ross. Kennedy and Ross have helped lead the team to a 4-0 WAC record.

Martens is a good defensive player, a fine passer and jump shooter who averaged 8.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists as a starter until being sidelined with the injury six games ago.

The Aztecs (12-2 overall, 4-0 in the WAC and 6-0 on the road) will fly to Albuquerque on Thursday and will practice that evening at “The Pit.” Gaines has a speaking engagement Wednesday in Chicago, but will meet the team in time for practice.

Unlike most visiting teams, the Aztecs have been successful in New Mexico’s 17,000-seat University Arena. SDSU has beaten the Lobos seven straight times, including three in a row in Albuquerque. The Aztecs lead the series, 10-4.

“No question they know about that streak,” Gaines said. “They have a better team this year than they did last year, and they’ve been playing well.”

New Mexico is 10-5 and 3-1 in the WAC. Friday night’s game against the Lobos will start at 6:35 p.m., but will be broadcast on a tape-delay basis at 7:30 on KSDO (1130).

Saturday night’s game against Texas-El Paso (11-5, 3-1) in the 12,200-seat Special Events Center in El Paso will begin at 6:35 p.m., and will be broadcast live on KSDO. The Aztecs aren’t nearly as successful against the Miners as they are against the Lobos. SDSU is 0-6 against UTEP in El Paso, and 3-9 against them overall.