Aztecs Step All Over Cal State Long Beach to Take 86-69 Win

After being tied 33-33 at halftime by Cal State Long Beach, San Diego State Coach Smokey Gaines gave his basketball team two options in the locker room.

“I told them it would be easier to play well in the second half than to run the stairs at the stadium (Aztec Bowl) at five in the morning,” he said.

The Aztecs decided on the first option. They came out in the second half and made 22 of 33 shots to run the 49ers (3-18) right out of the San Diego Sports Arena, taking an 86-69 victory.

A crowd of 1,621 dedicated basketball fans saw the Aztecs outscore the 49ers, 11-1, midway through the second half and 14-4 late in the half to easily win their 19th game.

SDSU is 19-5 going into their Western Athletic Conference showdown against University of Texas-El Paso at 7:30 Thursday night in the Sports Arena. UTEP is 10-2 in the WAC and SDSU is 9-3.

“There’s no question we were looking ahead to the UTEP game,” forward Michael Kennedy said. “Fortunately, we got this game out of the way.”

Guard Anthony Watson, who hit only one of five shots in the first half and scored only two points, had 23 second-half points to finish with a game-high 25. Center Leonard Allen scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, and finished with 7 rebounds.

“I wasn’t up for the first half,” Watson said. “At half, I put in my mind what I had to do.

“The only way I can really play hard is to grab the ball, go to the hole and score.”

That’s exactly what he did. It appears Watson may have left his jump shot in Utah after the Aztecs’ last road trip, so he has starting going to the basket more.

Scoring on a variety of layups and short bank shots, the 6-foot 3-inch junior hit 9 of 11 shots from the field and five of six free throws in the second half.

Meanwhile, Kennedy scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half while point guard Creon Dorsey added 13 assists despite playing with a sore right heel, knee and thigh.

Except for forward Andre Ross, who was replaced by guard Bobby Owens (nine points) midway through the second half, the Aztec starters played most of the game.

After Long Beach almost pulled out the first meeting between the teams--which SDSU won 62-60 at the Long Beach Arena, Gaines wasn’t taking any chances Tuesday night.

Especially after the way the Aztecs played in the first half. They missed dunks, let passes slip through their hands, missed easy jumpers and were beaten on defense.

Other than that, they played quite well against a team that started two freshmen and used six freshmen in the game.

Long Beach freshman guard Billy Walker had 16 points and freshman center DeAnthony Langston added 14. Those were the only two 49ers to score in double figures.

Most of the Aztec players agreed the 49ers have talent, but are at least a year away.

“There was one time in the first half when I thought we might actually lose this game,” Allen said. “They were getting a lot of second shots and the game was real close.”

Then Allen and Watson got themselves together and realized just how a loss to Long Beach could spoil what has been a very successful season.

That, and the thought of running steps made for the Aztecs’ 53 point explosion in the second half.