Atzecs Lose Record-Tying 10th Straight

San Diego State’s basketball team tied a single-season school record Monday night in Honolulu, but it was nothing to brag about.

The Aztecs lost their 10th straight game as Hawaii ended an 11-game losing streak, 76-67. SDSU lost 10 straight games in 1979-80, Coach Smokey Gaines’ first year. SDSU lost 11 straight in 1950-51 and 1951-52.

SDSU is in last place in the Western Athletic Conference with an 0-8 record, 2-16 overall. Hawaii is 1-7, 6-13.

The Aztecs led Hawaii at halftime, 42-34, and increased their lead to 52-43 after four minutes of the second half. However, Hawaii later outscored the Aztecs, 21-4, taking a 64-56 lead down the stretch.

SDSU center Gerald Murray scored a career-high 21 points but was held to four points in the second half.

“Gerald played very well, particularly in the first half,” Gaines said. “He just couldn’t get the shots to fall in the second half.”

Starting guards Tony Ross and Josh Lowery had difficulty against Hawaii. Ross scored eight points and Lowery did not score. Ross was leading SDSU with a 16.9 scoring average.

Hawaii was led by guard Chris Gaines, who finished with a game-high 30 points.

“He got hot,” Smokey Gaines said. “Everything they put up seemed to go in.”

Hawaii, which shot 36% in the first half, shot 74% in the second half. The Rainbows shot 49.1% overall and SDSU shot 53.8%.

After trailing early, the Rainbows sagged their defense in the second half, causing SDSU to take numerous outside shots.

“They played (the zone) in the first half, as well,” Gaines said. “It wasn’t their defense so much as the fact our shots weren’t falling.”

SDSU plays United States International University Thursday night and Miami Saturday night in the Sports Arena.