SDSU Benefits From USC’s Woes With Free Throws

If the story sounds familiar, it should by now. USC lost another basketball game Saturday night, this time a nonconference game to San Diego State, 79-73, and the difference was at the free-throw line.

The Trojans were outscored, 17-13, at the line. But that would not be so troublesome had they not had eight more attempts than the Aztecs.

The loss was USC’s third in four games and dropped its record to 2-3. In all three losses, poor free-throw shooting affected the outcome.

Last week, the Trojans lost by one point at Washington State and by five at Washington. In both games they shot 50% from the line for a combined 19 of 38.

But this was their worst by far. They made 13 of 30 attempts for 43.3% and missed the front of four one-and-one opportunities. That dropped their season free-throw shooting to 62 of 114.

The Trojans will have plenty of time to practice. They next play on Dec. 23 against St. Francis (Pa.) at the Sports Arena.

SDSU (5-2) won its fifth in a row, matching its longest victory streak since late in the 1984-85 season. The game, attended by 3,337 at the San Diego Sports Arena, ended a four-game home stand for the Aztecs, who will have to wait a week before trying for victory No. 6. Their next game is Saturday night at UC Irvine.

The Trojans’ troubles at the line neutralized their 36-23 advantage in rebounding. It also did not help that they continued shooting troubles from long range, making but two of 11 three-point attempts. That brought their season total to six of 33 (18.2%).

The Aztecs countered by making 17 of 22 free throws and eight of 19 three-point attempts.

SDSU junior forward Shawn Jamison led all scorers with 22 points. Senior guard Michael Best and reserve guard Arthur Massey added 17 points apiece.

Junior forward Ronnie Coleman led USC with 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Freshman guard Harold Miner had 17 points.

For a while, the Trojans looked as though they might find a way to win.

The second half started as if the game was going to be tight down to the end. There were nine lead changes and three ties in the first six minutes before the Aztecs went ahead for good at 50-49 on a layup by Jamison with 13:51 to play.

The Aztecs went on to score 19 of the next 28 points to take their biggest lead at 69-58 with 7:45 remaining, and the Trojans were never able to get closer than the final margin.

SDSU, which shot so poorly in the first half (12 of 28 for 42.9%), made 12 of its first 16 attempts from the floor in taking that 11-point lead.

The Aztecs actually had set up their second-half rally by finishing the first half strong.

After falling behind by as much as eight points in the first half at 30-22 with 4:29 left and still trailing, 34-27, with 1:41 remaining, the Aztecs chipped away. They outscored the Trojans, 7-2, the rest of the half to close to within, 36-34.

Jamison had four points in the run and Massey closed the half with a three-point play.

“Coming in close rather than down a ton maybe have helped us gain this win given our inexperience,” SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said.