SDSU (0-6) Plays UNLV in Roundup

If San Diego State loses to 12th-ranked Nevada Las Vegas in the Rebel Roundup at 9 tonight, the Aztecs will be off to their worst start in history.

But that’s only where the problem begins for the 0-6 Aztecs.

Earlier this week, team doctors said center Steffond Johnson suffered stress fractures in several discs in his lower back. Johnson, who has missed the last four games, will be out at least another three weeks.

Forward Gerald Murray has yet to play because of a broken kneecap. He is expected to redshirt.

Without Johnson and Murray, SDSU’s only inside players are freshman Kevin Brown and senior John Martens. Both are starters, but Brown has often been benched early for ineffectiveness. And forward Doug Aronson, who played for the Aztec football team, has quit the basketball team.

“We couldn’t foresee the injuries to Steffond and Gerald,” Coach Smokey Gaines said. “I believe we would be 5-1 or 4-2 if we had them for each game.”

Guard Anthony Watson is the team’s leading scorer with a 16.7 average. Martens is averaging a team-leading 6.8 rebounds.

UNLV (6-1) has three returning starters. Anthony Jones is averaging 15.9 points a game, Armon Gilliam 15.1 and Freddie Banks 15.0.

In the first game of tonight’s Rebel Roundup, Florida (4-1) will play Iona (2-5) at 6:30. Tonight’s winners will meet for the tournament championship at 9 Saturday, which will be preceded by the consolation game at 6:30.