Aztecs Fold Early, UTEP Gets Easy Win

Forget making adjustments at halftime. That only works when you’re in the game.

No, San Diego State’s best halftime strategy Thursday night against No. 23 Texas El Paso would have been to place pillows and blankets in the UTEP dressing room.

Because the Aztecs’ only hope by then was that they had lulled the Miners to sleep.

But as it was, UTEP (15-1, 5-0), which led by as many as 19 in the first half and by 12 at halftime, handed SDSU its ninth consecutive loss, 77-54, in front of a pinochle club-sized gathering of 2,258 in the San Diego Sports Arena.

A talented UTEP team out-rebounded the Aztecs, 53-33, partly because SDSU didn’t appear to be even playing hard at times.

“Some of the guys just aren’t happy with their playing time,” one Aztec said. “And some of the guys weren’t playing hard.”

The Aztecs (2-14, 0-4) are off to their worst start since going 2-23 in 1986-87, and things continue to get worse. Senior forward Nelson Stewart didn’t play in the second half because, he said, he had words with Coach Jim Brandenburg at halftime.

Stewart declined to say what he told Brandenburg, but said it was along the lines of, “I know you have to play certain players, but the players playing 100% should always play.”

Brandenburg said only that Stewart was benched in the second half for “disciplinary reasons.”

Stewart finished with one rebound and no points.

Also, starting forward Courtie Miller, who had no points or rebounds, played only two minutes in the second half, 13 total.

“I don’t know,” Miller said when asked why he didn’t play more. “I can’t put myself in.”

Guard Robert Ringo made it three SDSU starters who didn’t score.

In four Western Athletic Conference games, the Aztecs have not been competitive. They lost by 13 to Wyoming, 22 to New Mexico and 14 and 23 to UTEP.

They have shot only 35.8% from the field in WAC games and have 72 turnovers, compared to 41 assists.

“How can you be afraid to play basketball? I don’t understand,” said Stewart, who lectured his teammates on lack of desire in the locker room Saturday at New Mexico. “We need to win or, if not win, give 100%. That’s all I ask. If I’m not giving 100%, take me out.”

Stewart, whom Brandenburg had asked to take more of a leadership role, is the only senior on the team.

“No names,” Stewart said. “But when you’re playing and some guys, the guys who usually play and spark us, are happy to sit on the bench, that I will never be able to understand.

“No matter how much I go out or coach goes off, it’s up to players to play 100% every game.

“When you’re on the court, you have to have respect for yourself, the school and the team. If you don’t have that, what are you out there for? This is not playground ball.”

When asked what repercussions this loss and his actions may have, Stewart replied: “Hopefully, it won’t hurt us. But people are going through the motions, but there is no way anyone on this team ever played on a team with a record like this, a team struggling like we are.

“Why settle for it?”

After tying UTEP early, 8-8, the Aztecs mustered two points in the next 7:10. It was the fourth consecutive game in which SDSU’s offense went AWOL for a spell.

--At UTEP Saturday, SDSU didn’t score a point for the first 4:40 of the second half.

--At New Mexico Jan. 16, SDSU didn’t score a point during a 7:07 span in the first half.

--Against Southern Utah Jan. 11, SDSU managed only three field goals in the final 10 minutes.

Following the first-half spell, the Aztecs didn’t score for the first 3:24 of the second half, allowing a 37-25 deficit to become a 47-25 embarrassment.

And showing that the Aztecs can be inadequate in all aspects of the game, the SDSU defense also left something to be desired. At one point in the first half, UTEP guard Prince Stewart got an easy layup off the give-and-go play, one of the most basic plays in basketball.

Then, late in the second half, UTEP’s David Van Dyke blocked a Tony Clark shot . . . and then beat the Aztecs down the floor to receive a pass and obtain an easy dunk.

Marlon Maxey led UTEP with 24 points and 11 rebounds. In two games against SDSU this season, Maxey has 44 points and 26 rebounds.

“They’re going to beat somebody,” UTEP Coach Don Haskins said afterward.

He didn’t say who.