Bruins Roll to Win After Aztec Scare : College basketball: SDSU forward Balzer, bothered by knee problem, says he might decide this week to redshirt.

They were looking up at the scoreboard as if they were kids were seeing a Christmas tree for the first time.

It was the second half and, after trailing by 19 earlier, the San Diego State Aztecs suddenly found themselves within six points of No. 3 UCLA. But in the time it takes to rip the wrapping off a package, the Bruins regained control and stormed to an 84-64 victory in front of 6,656 in the San Diego Sports Arena.

But while the Aztecs (1-5) were feeling pretty good about themselves, this week may provide a different story. Although neither Aztec Coach Jim Brandenburg nor forward Keith Balzer would confirm it, team sources said that Balzer, whose knees have been bothering him with tendinitis, will decide this week whether to redshirt and miss the rest of the season.

“We’ll sit down and talk about it Monday,” said Balzer, who underwent surgery for tendinitis on his right knee after last season. “I don’t want to talk about it right now--the game just ended. I want to reflect on the game and think about it (today)--think about the pros and cons.”

Said Brandenburg: “We’ll make a decision next week.”

According to NCAA rules, Balzer is not eligible to redshirt if he plays in more than six games. He sat out SDSU’s two exhibition games, then started each of the Aztecs’ first six games.

“Keith gives us some pluses,” point guard Virgil Smith said. “Without him, it’s not going to be as easy as with him. We’re definitely going to miss some of the things he does. But with an injury like that, we can’t turn to Keith and say, ‘Tough it out.’ That’s a serious injury. I hope it heals--we’re better with him than without him.”

Balzer was SDSU’s one of the best returning players, averaging 10 points and four rebounds a game last season. He scored 10 points--his average this season--against UCLA (4-0).

Balzer’s departure would be the latest blow to a team that saw its two tallest players, Mark and Neal Pollard, quit last week and that played UCLA without Courtie Miller, its second-leading scorer, who might need arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

But for one night, SDSU put aside its troubles and battled. Without Don MacLean, UCLA’s second-leading scorer (16.3 points a game) and rebounder (6.3), the Bruins cruised to a 47-30 halftime lead before the Aztecs came back to within six, 67-61, with 5:18 left. UCLA then turned it on again, outscoring SDSU 17-3 the rest of the way.

Joe McNaull scored 19 points and had 13 rebounds for the Aztecs. Ray Barefield added 12 points and freshman Robert Ringo 11. SDSU was outshot, 50% to 40%, and outrebounded, 38-29.

“We still don’t have the pieces quite like we want to have them, but I think we made some strides in the second half of this ballgame,” Brandenburg said.

The Bruins were led by Shon Tarver’s career-high 26 points. Tracy Murray had 20.

But what really seemed to help UCLA was the play of Darrick Martin, a 5-11 senior guard who stepped into the gap when Gerald Madkins, a 6-4 senior, was moved into MacLean’s spot. Martin finished with season highs of 15 points and four assists.

By the time the second half started, the only drama should have been in whether Murray would keep his consecutive free-throw streak intact.

But as the Bruins 17-point lead melted, even Murray missed a beat. After making six free throws to extend his streak to 25 in a row dating to last season, Murray missed the front end of a two-shot foul with 5:34 left.

The halftime score was 47-30, UCLA, and the Aztecs were lucky to stay that close. The first half was pretty much summarized in two plays:

* For UCLA, Shon Tarver sank an improbable three-pointer at the buzzer from two steps inside of the mid-court line. Nothing but net. Swish.

* For SDSU, 6-foot-8 freshman Chris Davis--not exactly the Aztecs’ first choice when they need an outside shooter--put up a wild 20-footer with his team trailing, 37-22. Nothing but iron. Clank.

Aztec Notes

Frank Marple, the father of UCLA Coach Jim Harrick and the grandfather of SDSU assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr., died Friday night of cancer in Charleston, W.Va. . . . Jim Harrick Sr. received a technical foul with 1:11 left when Tracy Murray was pushed from behind on a dunk by SDSU’s Nelson Stewart. Murray suffered a stretched groin on the play, but UCLA officials said it is not serious.