Aztecs Blow Lead, Lose in Overtime

Johnny Brown scored 36 points Saturday night to lead New Mexico to a 95-92 Western Athletic Conference victory in overtime over San Diego State.

Anthony Watson had scored with four seconds left in regulation to give SDSU an 86-84 lead. New Mexico immediately called time out.

The ball was then thrown over half court to Brown on the inbounds play. Brown found 7-foot freshman Robert Loeffel open under the basket. Loeffel went up for the dunk but the ball slipped out of his hand. Loeffel and Aztec center Steffond Johnson went up for the rebound with Loeffel tipping it in as the buzzer sounded.

San Diego State did not score in the last two minutes of the extra period. The Aztecs missed three free throws, including one by Watson and two by Johnny Scruggs, that would have tied the game.

New Mexico had lost seven of its last nine games and was tied with San Diego State for fifth place in the WAC.

In the first seven minutes of the game, the Aztecs were 7 of 11, while New Mexico started out 2 for 12. San Diego State led by 15 points twice in the first half.

Brown outscored SDSU by himself, 15-7, during a four-minute period in the second half.

Loeffel hit a three-point play in overtime to help New Mexico (8-8 in the WAC and 16-12 overall) to a 93-88 lead. Watson, who scored 25 points, sank six in the extra period to bring the Aztecs to within 93-92.

Johnson scored 23 points and John Martens had 19 for the Aztecs, who fell to 7-9 and 9-18. Loeffel had 16 points for New Mexico, Mike Winters had 11 and Kelvin Scarborough chipped in 10.