Allen’s 29 Highlight SDSU Win

After Monday night’s game against Air Force, San Diego State center Leonard Allen wondered why a scout from the New York Knicks would select that game to look at him.

It was a lethargic game for both Allen and his teammates. Allen had five points and five rebounds in only 26 minutes in their 74-64 victory.

“Why don’t they pick the big games to come watch me play?” Allen asked.

Good news, Leonard.

Will Robinson of the Detroit Pistons was at the Marriott Center on Thursday night to see Allen score a career-high 29 points and make three key defensive plays down the stretch in the Aztecs’ 77-71 victory over Brigham Young in front of 18,743 fans.

“We’re looking for a big man in this year’s draft,” Robinson said, “and he’s one of the top 20 centers and power forwards in the country. He runs well, has long arms, plays with some enthusiasm and he’s 6-foot 10-inches.”

Robinson picked a great night to scout Allen for the first time.

“Tonight was by far the best game he’s played this year,” said Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines. “And it was our biggest win of the year.”

It was the Aztecs’ first victory in seven games played at BYU, and it gave SDSU sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 7-2 mark. Texas-El Paso is in first at 7-1.

It was SDSU’s fourth victory in seven conference road games, and it completed a sweep over BYU this season. The Aztecs will play five of their final seven conference games at home.

Coming into Thursday night’s game, Gaines thought that his team would win if the game was close in the final three or four minutes. That might seem surprising, but remember that the Aztecs easily beat the Cougars, 89-70 in San Diego earlier this month.

His players proved him prophetic.

After the Aztecs let an 11-point lead slip away in the second half, the teams were tied, 63-63, with a little more than four minutes to play.

That’s when the two stars of the game met head-to-head. BYU forward Timo Saarelainen, who had scored 29 of his game-high 33 points, drove across the middle and attempted a layup.

Allen came out of nowhere to swat the ball away for one of his five blocked shots. He tossed the ball downcourt to Dorsey, who threw a perfect bounce pass that resulted in a layup and three-point play opportunity for Anthony Watson. The foul shot was good, and the Aztecs led, 66-63.

Scott Sinek and Saarelainen followed with baskets to give BYU a 67-66 lead.

Aztec forward Michael Kennedy followed with a layup off a pass from Dorsey, and the Aztecs had the lead for good at 68-67.

With 1:34 to play, a pass went through the hands of center Tom Greiting and out of bounds.

“Not being able to catch that ball was a crucial mistake,” Saarelainen said, “and it was probably the turning point of the game.”

Seconds later, Jeff Konek fed Allen underneath for a layup and another three-point play opportunity. The foul shot was good, and SDSU led 71-67.

On BYU’s ensuing possession, Allen once again literally rose to the occasion when he knocked away a pass by Jeff Chapman, and was fouled. He hit the front end of a one-and-one to make it 72-67.

After a dunk by Saarelainen, Allen blocked a drive by guard Marty Perry and passed to Dorsey.

Throughout the game Dorsey set up his teammates for easy baskets inside. The Aztec playmaker had 10 assists and 7 points.

This time, Dorsey shielded himself from Perry with his body and scored on a driving one-handed layup while he was fouled. Both the layup and the foul shot were good, and the Aztecs led, 75-69, with 34 seconds to play.

In the opening 20 minutes, Aztec leading scorer Anthony Watson missed all four of his shots and went scoreless. Saarelainen, the Cougars’ leading scorer, scored 21 of his game-high 33 points to pace a one-man attack.

Saarelainen scored on jump shots and powerful inside moves against every defense the Aztecs attempted. Kennedy and Watson tried to guard him man-to-man, and the Aztecs also tried a box-and-one, a 2-3 zone and a triangle-and-two.

The Aztecs stayed in the game and led 41-39 at halftime because they got balanced scoring in the half from Allen, who had 12 before halftime, Kennedy 8, Konek 8 and Andre Ross 7.

Meanwhile, BYU (12-8, 6-3) didn’t get more than four points in the first half from anyone except Saarelainen. For the game, Sinek had 10, and was only other Cougar to finish in double figures.

“Their zone was tighter in the second half,” Saarelainen said, “and we kind of slowed it down and I didn’t get the ball as much as I wanted to.

Gaines compared BYU’s offensive situation to what the Aztecs faced last year when they depended almost entirely on forward Michael Cage.

But, a lot has changed for the Aztecs since last season. Allen’s performance and the Aztecs’ victory on a court on which they had never won are perfect examples.