Thompson’s Savors Aztecs’ Height : USD Center Gets 21 Against Shorter SDSU Front Line

At least there’s somebody in San Diego who’s happy about the height--or better yet, the lack of it--in San Diego State’s front line.

And Scott Thompson couldn’t help contain his happiness Thursday night.

While Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines sat dejectedly on the sideline, Thompson, USD’s 7-foot senior center, frolicked underneath the basket, scoring 21 points in the Toreros’ 83-67 victory at the San Diego Sports Arena.

It was easy to see why USD was able to go inside to Thompson. The Aztecs have nobody taller than 6-foot 9-inches up front. So Thompson positioned himself underneath, received the ball, and turned toward the basket for easy lay-ins most of the night.

“It sure doesn’t bother me any that they don’t have any height down there,” Thompson said.

He began having an easy time of it very early in the game. The first two times Toreros had the ball, they worked it in to Thompson who scored on layups.

He had 15 points by halftime, far and away his best outing since the season-opener at Utah, when he scored 31 points.

“I always feel pretty confident I can score in there,” Thompson said. “We just did a good job of getting the ball inside.”

Thompson’s task was made easier Thursday because USD was shooting well from outside.

Forward Mark Manor had hit on only 29% of his shots through the season’s first four games. But he made his first four shots against the Aztecs and finished with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

“I know that I’ve been worried about his cold shooting but I don’t think he has,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “Heck, he keeps putting it up.”

Manor says the new three-point line has caused him some problems this season.

“It sticks in the back of your mind,” Manor said. “Too often, I’ve been thinking of the three-point shot and not getting my shots off in the flow of the offense. It makes a big difference when you shoot the ball at the right time.”

After Thompson’s fast start, the Aztecs started dropping their guards down to double-team him underneath. Twice Manor got the ball when he wasn’t ready to shoot . . . but nobody guarded him.

“No one was coming out so I had to put those up,” Manor said.

And as he continued to hit, USD continued to build its lead.

By the time the Toreros had opened a 24-6 lead, Thompson was real happy. On successive trips down the floor, he scored on a left-handed hook and a hook from the right side.

“You guys haven’t been keeping an eye on me,” Thompson said with a laugh. “I can make those shots.”

It’s especially easy when you’re shooting over smaller players.

“Our team wanted this game pretty badly,” Thompson said. “Everybody all week has been saying ‘the game’ is not a rivalry, but to the players, it is.

“I noticed the other day, Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines was saying that this isn’t a rivalry, but he knows it is. I didn’t hear him saying a lot tonight.”

Could it have been Gaines was saying there was no rivalry because he knew he was going to lose, it was asked.

“Yes, I think that might have been it,” Thompson said. “I know I’m really happy we beat them.”

At least somebody was happy.