An Easy Victory in Their Opener Is Something Special for Aztecs

San Diego State opened its 1988-89 basketball season Saturday night by defeating Delaware, 74-61, in front of 2,536 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

If that sounds like a ho-hum yawner to you, think again. Because recent history says it is not every day that the Aztecs win, let alone open their season with a victory.

Not since 1984 (86-77 over UC Irvine) had the Aztecs started the season by winning, and not since 1982 (75-58 over San Francisco State) had they done so as convincingly.

For the Aztecs, in their second-year under Coach Jim Brandenburg, it was one of those small steps to savor, regardless of the opponent or the sometimes relative sloppiness of the early play.

And considering the Aztecs started two transfers and used 10 players in the first 10 minutes--only four of whom were part of last season’s 12-17 team--Brandenburg had some reason for optimism.

“I saw some things I was pleased with,” Brandenburg said. “For a first game we did some things well. But we still have some work to do.”

Senior center Mitch McMullen had game highs of 21 points and 9 rebounds for the Aztecs. Senior forward Shawn Bell, a transfer from Chicago State playing in his first game at SDSU, had 14 points and 4 assists but made 6 turnovers.

Junior guard Tony Ross, the Aztecs’ leading scorer the past 2 seasons, came off the bench to score 12 points in 25 minutes, making all 4 of his shots from the field, including two from 3-point range.

“Tony came in and played a real nice ballgame,” Brandenburg said.

Ross had lost his starting spot to junior Michael Best, a transfer from Clemson. But Best struggled in his Aztec debut, missing all 4 of his shots and fouled out after playing only 27 minutes.

Delaware was led by Mark Haughton’s 15 points.

Both teams started slowly. The Aztecs began as if this were their first game (which it was), the Blue Hens as if this were their second game in 2 days at the end of a 3,000-mile trip (which it was). Delaware had lost at USC, 74-68, Friday afternoon after leading by 2 points with 3 1/2 minutes to play.

The Aztecs’ newness and the Blue Hens’ fatigue made for a sloppy first few minutes.

SDSU scored only 6 points in the first 5 minutes. Delaware did not make its first first field goal until 14:42 was left in the half and had only two field goals in the first 11 minutes.

It was the Aztecs who shook the doldrums first. They broke open a 9-4 game by outscoring the Blue Hens, 12-2, in a 3-minute span to take a 21-6 advantage with 10:03 left in the half.

Delaware did make a run, three times cutting the lead to 5 points, the last 36-31 with 1:45 left in the half. But SDSU scored the last 5 points to take a 41-31 lead. The teams combined for 28 turnovers in the half.