SDSU Manages to Lose to New Mexico, 88-84

San Diego State’s basketball team may not have learned how to win yet, but things were at least less predictable Saturday against New Mexico.

The Aztecs led New Mexico by 15 points in the first half but ended up losing, 88-84, in front of 1,004 at the Sports Arena in a Western Athletic Conference opener. It was New Mexico’s first win at San Diego in the last 10 seasons. The Lobos are 11-3.

The Aztecs are 2-9, with their only victories against Cal State Los Angeles, a Division II team, and Manhattan, the second-worst Division I record in the nation last season.

The Aztecs did have a Division I opponent in trouble for a while Saturday. During a seven-minute span in the half, they had a 15-point lead, then blew it and trailed by 10. In the next, 2:29, they took the lead again, only to lose it again.

“I think both teams played ugly,” New Mexico Coach Gary Colson said. “When you have two running teams, which both teams are, you’re going to have turnovers and steals. It’ll come down to whoever settles down in the last two minutes.”

The Aztecs trailed, 84-82, with 1:10 left after a basket by Darryl Gaines. But on the Lobos’ next possession, Kelvin Scarborough got behind SDSU’s defense for an uncontested layup with 36 seconds remaining.

Tony Ross missed a three-point attempt and fouled Darrell McGee on the rebound to give New Mexico an 87-82 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

SDSU hurt itself at the free-throw line. The Aztecs missed four of their last five free throws, including the front end of three one-and-ones. They made 11 of 23 from the line, contrasted with New Mexico’s 24 of 33.

“These are the types of games where you have to hit your free throws,” Smokey Gaines, SDSU coach, said. “If you shoot 70% to 75% on your free throws, you’ll win some games like these.”

The Aztecs also committed 20 turnovers, four more than New Mexico.

Another problem was SDSU’s inability to adjust to New Mexico’s transition game. The Lobos scored 14 layups as the Aztecs were often late getting back on defense.

“They kept getting fast breaks and layups to the basket,” Aztec forward Rodney Hawkins said. “It all comes down to the fact we should’ve stopped their fast break.”

Through the first half, New Mexico was unable to stop Ross, a freshman who scored 25 of his season-high 31 points by halftime.

Ross hit 9 of 16 three-point shots, including 7 of 12 in the first half.

“He probably doesn’t know it, but we had four different defenses on him,” Colson said. “I don’t think he cared. I think he got a little tired (in the second half). Smokey has a jewel there. He’s the coolest freshman I’ve seen in some time.”

Ross is shooting 53.2% from three-point range, but just 37.1% on two-point attempts.

“I’ve been shooting 23- and 24-foot shots all of my life,” Ross said. “Every shot I take, I think I can make. If I hit two or three in a row, I can feel the flow going.”

Ross hit 5 of his first 6 three-pointers and 2 of his first 3 two-pointers Saturday, and had 19 points just 7:20 into the game. He was then held in check as New Mexico began rotating its defenses.

When Ross got cold midway through the first half, so did the Aztecs. They were outscored at one point, 26-1, going from a 29-14 lead to a 40-30 deficit. However, SDSU regained the lead, 43-42, with 3:38 left in the half.

“It happened so quick,” Gaines said. “You have to play like you have a lead when you have the lead. That comes through experience. We’re still playing not to lose rather than to win.”

Aztec Notes

Guard Josh Lowery, SDSU’s second-leading scorer, will return to the lineup Monday night against Texas El Paso at the Sports Arena. Lowery served a one-game suspension Saturday for his involvement in a fight during last season’s WAC Tournament. . . . Forward Juan Espinoza scored a season-high 17 points against New Mexico, and point guard William Campbell had 15 points and 10 assists. However, center Gerald Murray was held scoreless for the second consecutive game. New Mexico’s Hunter Greene and Kelvin Scarborough each scored 27 points. . . . When the three-point rule was instituted, Tony Ross said he received calls from numerous universities. “A lot of schools like Kentucky and Wichita State started contacting me because I’m a good outside shooter,” Ross said. “I stayed here because I already had committed here. From time to time, I still think I should’ve gone to Marquette because it was my childhood dream. But they have a new coach who has slowed things down, plus it’s cold in Milwaukee.” . . . New Mexico Coach Gary Colson thinks SDSU should play its home games at 4,000-seat Peterson Gym on campus rather than the 13,000-seat Sports Arena. “If I was Smokey (Gaines), I’d play all games on campus,” Colson said. “It’d make a better home court. There’s no atmosphere here (at the Sports Arena). It’s like we’re going to San Diego to scrimmage the Aztecs. My theory is that packed gyms all look the same, whether it’s Peterson Gym or the Pit (New Mexico’s 17,000-seat arena).”