Aztecs Show Jitters, Lose Exhibition Game

Mitch McMullen, the starting center on San Diego State basketball team, remembers how difficult it is to play for the first time on a new team. He was in that situation last year after transferring from College of the Canyons.

“I know last year I was so scared I couldn’t even hold the ball,” he said.

A young Aztec team, composed of 8 new players and 6 returners, played its first game Monday night at Peterson Gym. And as expected, Aztecs showed quite a few jitters in a 75-66 exhibition loss to the West End 36ers, a professional team from Australia.

But McMullen was steady. He led all scorers with 21 points. The rest of the Aztecs stumbled often over their wraparound passes, turnovers and poor shooting from the field.

SDSU converted just 38 percent of its field goals for the game, while the 36ers shot 56 percent.

“My worst nightmare is realized,” SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said. “For the past 3 weeks, we have not played with the intensity in practice. Defense was our No. 1 Achilles’ heel.”

While SDSU suffered through its own first-half mistakes, the 36ers were patient and were paced by Mark Davis with 14 points. Davis finished as the 36ers’ leading scorer with 20 points, followed by center Mark Bradtke, who had 19.

Trailing 41-29 at halftime, the Aztecs settled down and mounted a comeback midway through the second half.

With 12:57 remaining and the Aztecs trailing 52-35, Michael Best, a transfer from Clemson, made a wraparound pass to Rodney Jones who filled the lane for a nice layup. A jumpshot by Sam Johnson and a layup and free throw by Dana Jackson cut the 36ers’ lead to 11.

Then, Aztec Eeric White hit a jump shot that appeared to get SDSU back in the game. Not so.

The 36ers responded with 2 layups and stretched the lead again., Brandenburg is aware of the work that needs to be done, but he sees potential in his young team.

“I do think this ballclub can really improve,” he said. “I think the message has been sent and received.”

The 36ers are 4-5 on their 10-game tour of the United States. They have beaten San Jose State, Santa Clara and Rice.