SDSU Takes On Colorado State Tonight

San Diego State and Colorado State, two basketball teams hoping for better days, start the second half of their Western Athletic Conference basketball schedule tonight at 6:30 in Fort Collins.

Both teams started the conference season with promise. Colorado State was the conference coaches’ choice to win the WAC title. The Aztecs started their conference season with consecutive home victories over Colorado State and Air Force, the same teams they play on this two-game trip. The Aztecs play at Air Force Saturday.

But after winning their first two conference games, the Aztecs dropped their next five. The losing streak ended Monday with a 69-61 victory over Wyoming at the Sports Arena.

Colorado State has a three-game losing streak after starting the season with a 6-2 record. The Rams are 11-8 overall, 4-4 in the WAC. SDSU is 9-9 and 3-5.

Mitch McMullen led the Aztecs to a 62-57 victory over Colorado State at the Sports Arena on Jan. 5. McMullen scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds. The Aztecs led most of the game and had a 61-51 lead in the final minute before Colorado State rallied.

McMullen, who has been slowed by an Achilles’ injury, scored 16 points Monday in the Aztecs’ victory over Wyoming.

Sam Johnson, who has been bothered by a sprained ankle, had 7 rebounds.

Colorado State has defeated SDSU in their past six meetings and seven of the past 10 in Fort Collins.

Pat Durham, a 6-foot-8 forward, leads the Rams with 19.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but guard Joel Tribelhorn has led the team in scoring in four of the past five games.

The Aztecs have a similar situation with guard Michael Best. While McMullen leads the team with 15.3 points a game, Best has come on strong during conference play. Best has led the team in scoring the past four games and is averaging 15.3 points against WAC teams.