Lineup Switch Enables SDSU to Win, 86-59 : Insertion of 3 New Starters, Hawkins’ 23 Points, Prove Too Much for Dartmouth
Coach Jim Brandenburg hoped to get better rebounding and a stronger defensive effort out of his revised San Diego State starting lineup Monday night.
He got both in an 86-59 victory over Dartmouth in front of 1,760 in the San Diego Sports Arena. SDSU led, 45-23, at halftime and was never seriously challenged.
After being dominated on the boards, 42-19, in a 23-point loss to University of San Diego Saturday and allowing the Toreros to shoot 52% from the field, the Aztecs reversed matters against Dartmouth.
SDSU outrebounded Dartmouth, 53-28, and limited the Big Green to 30% shooting from the field. The Aztecs also had six players score in double figures.
Senior forward Rodney Hawkins had a career-high 23 points. Caldin Rogers and Sam Johnson, both inserted into the starting lineup Monday, had 11 points apiece. Tony Ross, Juan Espinoza and Mitch McMullen had 10 points each.
The star was Hawkins, who set the tone of the game with 15 first-half points and had a game-high 13 rebounds.
“It was my best game (at SDSU),” Hawkins said.
Hawkins played more inside instead of covering the other team’s top scorer on the perimeter, and the switch seemed to work.
“We hadn’t been getting the boards we were supposed to,” Hawkins said.
The top two goals on the blackboard in the Aztec locker room are: Team Approach and Communication.
The Aztecs received high marks in both Monday.
“Our guys were communicating,” Brandenburg said. “We thought the game. Offensively and defensively, we played with a purpose.”
Brandenburg started Rogers instead of Espinoza, Johnson instead of McMullen and Ty Walker instead of Ross. With Bryan Williams and Hawkins, the Aztec starters were the same group that started in the 67-59 loss to Tulsa Dec. 5.
This time, they got the Aztecs off to a quick lead that they never relinquished.
The Aztecs led, 9-0, after 4 minutes, 8 seconds, and extended their advantage to 19-5.
“We came out with an intensity we didn’t have Saturday night,” Brandenburg said.
Dartmouth cut the margin to 26-20 with 8:16 to play in the half, but that was the closest the Big Green got.
SDSU ran off 11 straight points to make it 37-20. SDSU outshot Dartmouth 50% (17 of 34) to 32% (8 of 25 shots) and outrebounded them, 26-12. SDSU made nine layups in the first half, and Dartmouth had none.
Hawkins had 15 points and 9 rebounds and Rogers had 11 points in the first half. For the game, Rogers also limited guard Jim Barton, who averaged 29 points, to 17 points on 5 for 12 from the field.
“They (Dartmouth) came in feeling good about themselves and rightfully so,” Brandenburg said. “That’s a good basketball team. The trip to Hawaii and playing last night (80-76 victory over United States International University Sunday) showed.”
Dartmouth is not exactly known as a basketball power, but the Big Green was 4-1 before Monday and had defeated Hawaii, 80-70. They are favored to be a top contender in the Ivy League this season.
But they ran into a determined Aztec team with a lineup that seemed to click.
Aztec Notes
Freshman walk-on guard William Dixion, a cornerback on the SDSU football team, suited up for his first game Monday and got to play the final one minute, 39 seconds.