Aztecs Are Trounced by UTEP : Gaines’ Career at SDSU Ends on Losing Note, 85-65

Smokey Gaines’ last game as San Diego State coach was as much of a mismatch as his first game eight years ago.

Only this time, SDSU was on the short end. This was a tournament game instead of a season opener. And the Aztecs had to play a powerhouse instead of a patsy.

In a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates, the eighth-seeded Aztecs were soundly defeated, 85-65, Thursday night by top-seeded Texas El Paso in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament at the University of New Mexico.

“We were outmatched tonight,” Gaines said. “That’s about it. UTEP is a very fine ballclub. They have the right chemistry going. As for us, we had a very young ballclub this year and we had problems. Tonight was like a flashback to the beginning of the season.”

On Dec. 1, 1979, in Gaines’ first game at SDSU, the Aztecs defeated Fort Hays State of Hays, Kan., 101-77, at Peterson Gym.

But the Aztecs could not pick their opponent Thursday night. They had to face UTEP, which had already defeated the Aztecs twice this season.

UTEP--which has won or shared the WAC regular-season title five straight years--won the conference and earned the right to face the eighth-place team.

Playing in front of a loud group of UTEP fans who formed a sea of orange at the Pit, the Miners jumped to a 25-8 lead after 12 minutes. It became 34-14 on a thunderous dunk by Mike Richmond with four minutes to play in the half.

A balanced and disciplined UTEP team led by 40-19 at halftime. The Miners shot 54% and had 10 assists, and SDSU shot 25% (6 for 24) and had only two assists.

SDSU outscored the Miners by one in the second half but never made a game of it.

After SDSU qualified for the tournament by defeating Hawaii, 93-90, Tuesday at the San Diego Sports Arena, some of the players had visions of upsetting UTEP. After all, SDSU had lost to UTEP (24-5) by only six in El Paso this season, and the Aztecs were on their only two-game winning streak of the season.

The Aztecs knew that they would have to play error-free ball and that freshman guard Tony Ross, their leading scorer, would have to hit from the outside.

SDSU made 17 turnovers in the first half. Against Hawaii, Ross scored 30 points (10 for 14 from the field, including 8 for 10 on three-pointers) and hit the game-winner. But he was ice cold Thursday. He went 0 for 9 (0 for 4 on three-pointers) in the first half and finished with five points on a 1-for-13 shooting performance.

Forward Rodney Hawkins scored 13 and Johnny Scruggs and Tracy Dildy had 10 each for SDSU. Hernell Jackson had 20, Chris Sandle 15, Richmond 14 and Tim Hardaway 10 for the Miners.

It was a fitting ending to the worst season in the history of Aztec basketball. SDSU was 5-25 and 0-13 on the road.

This season was so draining on the usually effervescent Gaines that he announced his resignation as coach in early February after the Aztecs had lost 13 in a row. SDSU went on to lose 17 straight.

Gaines, who will remain with the Aztec athletic department in an administrative position, concluded his coaching career at SDSU with a record of 112-117.

Does he plan to return to coaching?

“I will keep my options open,” he said. “In the past few weeks, I have gotten some calls from some universities, and I am just going to wait to see what happens.”

New Mexico 92, Colorado State 77--Hunter Greene scored 30 points and the Lobos overpowered the Rams in the the WAC tournament.

The Lobos (25-8) will face BYU tonight.

Pat Durham scored 24 points for Colorado State (13-16).

BYU 82, Air Force 79--Michael Smith scored 8 of his 29 points in overtime, and the Cougars got past the Falcons in the WAC tournament.

The Cougars (21-9) scored eight straight points to take an 80-75 lead with 46 seconds left in overtime. The Falcons (12-15) closed to within three points, but missed two 3-point shots in the final seconds.