SDSU Defeats Hawaii, 92-89, Snaps 17-Game Losing Streak

The bags came off and out came smiles and handshakes. And for the first time in nearly two months San Diego State heard a round of sincere applause.

The agonizingly long streak of a school-record 17 straight losses came to an end Saturday night as SDSU defeated the University of Hawaii, 92-89, before 1,358 in a Western Athletic Conference basketball game in the Sports Arena.

It took two free throws by the Aztecs’ Darryl Gaines with six seconds remaining to give SDSU its first victory since it beat Manhattan College, 77-69, Dec. 27.

Gaines is the son of Aztec Coach Smokey Gaines, who will resign at the end of the season.

“I knew I had to make them,” Gaines said. “I was trying to get a win for everybody--my mother, my sister. . . .”

In breaking its losing streak, SDSU (1-13, 3-23) needed to score a season-high 92 points and shoot 55% from the field. Even so, the Aztecs nearly lost the game in the final seconds.

Leading, 90-83, with 40 seconds remaining, San Diego State went cold at the line and on the court.

First, Hawaii’s Alan Andrus grabbed an offensive rebound and scored inside while drawing a foul from the Aztecs’ Josh Lowery. Andrus hit the free throw to cut the Aztecs’ lead to 90-86 with 31 seconds left.

Guard Johnny Scruggs was intentionally fouled with 19 seconds remaining but missed both shots from the line. Scruggs, however, got the rebound on his second miss and charged inside but was called for an offensive foul, and Hawaii took the ball with 16 seconds remaining.

Five seconds later, Hawaii’s Craig Murray took his only shot of the night, making a three-pointer from the left side with 11 seconds to go.

After a Hawaii timeout, Gaines was fouled with six seconds remaining and calmly hit both free throws.

A three-point attempt by Andrus at the buzzer bounced off the rim and the Aztecs won their first WAC game of the year.

“I didn’t even look at it (Andrus’ three-point attempt),” Smokey Gaines said. “They’ve been going in all year. It never should have got to that.”

The victory seemed of little solace to Gaines, whose team suffered through a streak that included an embarrassing loss to United States International University that dropped the Aztecs to No. 3 in San Diego.

The Aztecs seemed in control of the game after playing probably their finest half of the season. SDSU shot 54% from the field and 82% (9 of 11) from the line to take a 43-40 lead at the half.

SDSU took its biggest lead of the game, 59-48, early in the second half and held Hawaii (2-12, 7-18) off until the Rainbows rallied and the Aztecs began missing their free throws with less than two minutes remaining.

Lowery scored 23 points and Tony Ross added 20, including four three-pointers, to lead the Aztecs. Andrus led Hawaii with a game-high 26 points and forward John Gabriel added 20.