In their previous two games (against Boise St. and Fresno St.) the San Diego State men’s basketball team had substantial 2nd half leads and let them get away, losing both games.
On Saturday in New Mexico the Aztecs were up by double digits again. They still have not figured out how to close. SDSU let a 10-point halftime lead disappear in a 79-75 loss to the Lobos, dropping them under the .500 mark in Mountain West Conference play.
Freshman forward Jalen McDaniels helped the Aztecs out to an early lead. He scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, hitting six of seven shots. But after halftime McDaniels only had one attempt from the field. As he was neutralized, Lobos guard Antino Jackson showed up.
The senior got 16 of his game-high 24 points after the break and hit the two biggest shots of the game. It was Jackson’s 3-pointer that put the Lobos on top 75-73 with 2:59 to play, giving UNM the lead for the first time in more than 30 minutes. Aztecs senior forward Malik Pope, who tied Devin Watson for the team lead with 16 points, got a dunk to tie it 75-all before Jackson sank a jump shot that gave New Mexico the lead for good.
SDSU falls to 3-4 in MWC play and now, despite their win over Gonzaga, is going to have to win the Conference Tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
