San Diego State Gets First Victory of Season

One hour before tipoff Thursday night, San Diego State point guard Arthur Massey was limping away from Peterson Gym and getting ready to change his clothes.

Game uniform?

Nope. He was changing out of his shorts and into a pair of jeans. He was walking with the help of one crutch, hobbling along on a sprained ankle.

That’s not all. SDSU starting forward Keith Balzer was nursing a case of the flu, and he didn’t suit up either.

No matter. Midwestern State, an NAIA school from Wichita Falls, Tex., came to San Diego Thursday like a cupcake to a sugar addict.

Aztecs 95, Midwestern State 58, in front of 915.

And it wasn’t that close.

While Massey and Balzer--two-fifths of the SDSU starting lineup and worth an average of 25 points a game--watched from the end of the bench, SDSU raced to a 23-9 lead midway through the first half and took a 25-point halftime lead, 47-22. SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg played all 12 available SDSU players before halftime.

Midwestern State--a late addition to the Aztec basketball schedule when SDSU was short on games--may not be North Carolina, but just the same, the victory came as a relief to Brandenburg and his players. SDSU (1-3) opened against three Division I teams and was still looking for its first victory of the season.

“It was really important for these guys to find some success in this game,” Brandenburg said. “I just can’t tell you what a lack of success will do to the human spirit.”

The game was particularly good for the spirits of Marty Dow, SDSU’s 7-foot-1 center. At USC Tuesday, en route to a 3-for-17 performance from the floor, he looked like he was trying to shoot a beach ball into a candle holder. He had an easier time of it Thursday. Early in the game, the Aztecs lobbed the ball inside to Dow. Midwestern State, whose tallest player is 6-9, wasn’t nearly as effective as USC had been in stopping SDSU’s inside game.

Consequently, Dow rang up numbers like he was at a pinball machine. He finished with 24 points--his SDSU career high--and eight rebounds in only 20 minutes. He made 11 of 16 field-goal attempts.

“I did a lot of thinking after the USC game,” Dow said. “I forced a lot of shots. I can’t blame anybody else for those errors.

“Tonight, I had good position, and my teammates got me the ball where I needed it. I’ve got to thank my teammates for putting points on the board tonight.”

Dow wasn’t the only bright spot. Joe McNaull, a 6-10 freshman, played his best game and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Guard James Lewis, a junior community college transfer, had 13 points.

With Massey out, it was a chance for SDSU’s young guards to grow up in a hurry. Freshman Chris McKinney and sophomore Ray Barefield, who sat out last season because he didn’t meet Proposition 48 requirements, started in the backcourt. Both were steady, and Lewis added some scoring.

“(The guard play) wasn’t perfect, but what those guys need is playing time,” Brandenburg said. “I thought they responded. They gained some confidence and found out they can play.”

SDSU outrebounded Midwestern State (3-8), 46-28, and blocked 12 Indian shots. SDSU shot 61.5% and held the Indians to 34.5%.