Aztecs Are Beaten by the Tigers

San Diego State lost another basketball game Monday night--and the Aztecs may lose another player after the season.

After SDSU had lost to Memphis State, 101-75, freshman guard Tony Ross said he was thinking about transferring to another university.

“I don’t want to leave because I’d have to sit out a year,” Ross said. “If I don’t feel I’m getting a fair shake, I will (leave). It’s a decision I’ll have to make after the season. It seems to me there is favoritism on this team. I don’t think it’s that way anywhere else.”

Ross, who leads the Aztecs with a 15.8 scoring average, is no doubt frustrated in part by his team’s 1-6 record.

However, his discontent apparently extends beyond that. He scored 29 points in 24 minutes against Ball State on Saturday night, yet he didn’t start against Memphis State. He still led the Aztecs with 21 points in 24 minutes Monday.

“I feel I should be playing a lot more, to be frank with you,” Ross said. “The statistics show I’ve played well every game. I’m tired of not playing as much as I deserve. Coach (Smokey) Gaines says I’m inexperienced. It shouldn’t matter whether you’re a freshman or senior. If you can play, you can play. I’ve never heard of somebody scoring 29 points off the bench, then not starting the next game.”

According to Gaines, he will increase Ross’ playing time as the season progresses.

“Eventually, he’ll get in there more,” Gaines said. “He played 24 minutes tonight and scored 21 points. We have to get him in there.”

Gaines met individually with each player after Friday’s 81-66 loss to North Carolina Charlotte. His most lengthy discussions were with Ross and sophomore guard Josh Lowery, who was in a shooting slump but had 18 points Monday.

Often, Gaines has said that Ross will eventually be better than Anthony Watson, SDSU’s second-leading career scorer. Watson didn’t start until eight games into his freshman season.

“I’ve explained to Tony that he’s going to be better than Watson,” Gaines said. “You’re talking to a freshman now. That’s why a lot of teams won’t let you (the media) talk to freshmen. Players will see this and get on him. He missed a couple of key shots tonight like layups. You know how freshmen are.”

The Aztecs, who don’t have any seniors, played like an inexperienced team against Memphis State. They committed 28 turnovers, two shy of the school record set in a 96-74 victory against United States International University in 1969-70.

“This is crazy here,” Ross said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this. My high school team (Grant High School of Portland, Ore.) had more discipline than this. With my high school team, we’d all be clapping before the game. Here, everyone is walking around in their own world.

“I’m used to winning and playing hard. We could’ve won more games here. People are just shooting the ball and turning it over too much. When I have the hot hand, no one gives me the ball.”

Teammates who heard what Ross said declined to comment.

On the court, the Aztecs actually made noise until down the stretch. They trailed, 64-61, with 9:19 to play but were never a factor thereafter.

By then, center Gerald Murray had four fouls and forwards Rodney Hawkins and Juan Espinoza had three. SDSU, then forced to play less aggressively, got hurt on the boards. The Aztecs had outrebounded Memphis State in the first half, 15-14, but they were outrebounded overall, 38-28.

“I thought we could’ve beaten them,” forward Kevin Brown said. “They were not as physical as I thought they’d be. They are not the caliber they have been in recent years.”

Memphis State (7-4) was put on a two-year NCAA probation before the season.

The Tigers still play aggressively under first-year Coach Larry Finch as evidenced by the full-court press they used the entire game.

“When we started the game, we had the jitters,” Aztec guard Tracy Dildy said. “That’s why their press bothered us in the beginning. Otherwise, we made a lot of mental mistakes. The fact they kept the press on and didn’t give up is what got to us at the end.”

There were bright spots for SDSU. Murray had 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Espinoza had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

SDSU was again hot from three-point range, hitting 7 of 12, including 4 of 6 by Ross. Memphis State was 0 for 2 from three-point range.

The Tigers made 29 of 40 free throws, compared to SDSU’s 16 of 23.

“You expect those things to happen on the road,” Gaines said. “But if we play as well as we did the first 30 minutes, I think we’ll surprise a lot of teams.”