Reserve Steinly Quits Aztec Team

The San Diego State basketball team, winners of two consecutive games, lost a player when backup center Neal Steinly quit late Tuesday.

Steinly, a 6-foot-11 senior, was averaging 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds a game. He had played in 15 of SDSU’s 16 games, but his playing time has recently been diminished. He didn’t play at all in last Thursday’s game against New Mexico and he played only three minutes Saturday against Texas El Paso. Previously, he had been averaging nine minutes a game.

“I didn’t think I could contribute anymore, to the team or to myself as far as being a player,” Steinly said. “My grades were suffering a little bit--I have to bring those up.

“My basketball clock kind of started winding down, and it ran out.”

Steinly was in his fourth season at SDSU. He was Marty Dow’s backup, and he got his best chance to play toward the end of last season when Dow tore ligaments in his foot. Steinly started the six games--the only six starts in 85 games at SDSU--after Dow was injured last season and during that time scored a career-high 10 points at New Mexico. Ironically, the Aztecs--without Steinly--are in New Mexico for a game tonight at 6:30 (PST).

“All season, I got some (minutes) here and there, and I’d do well here and there,” Steinly said. “It was an inconsistent season.”

SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg attributed part of Steinly’s decision to his marriage last fall, saying Steinly’s priorities changed. Steinly, though, discounted that.

Brandenburg said Steinly, who is on track to graduate this spring, will remain on scholarship.