Mountain West Tournament Quarterfinals: Zach’s Running Blog

by Zach

Finally arrived after just after the start of the first Quarterfinal game between the 1-seed SDSU Aztecs and the 9-seed Air Force Falcons.

  • 11:48 First Half: SDSU leads 16-15
  • AFA needed to stay with SDSU through the first 10 minutes of the game and have done way more than that as they lead 20-19.
  • AFA has done a great job so far against the SDSU defense, they are 11-15 FG and 5-7 from 3. AFA is a very talented offensive team, and if they are able to hit from deep they could have a chance in this one.
  • 7:33 First Half: AFA 27 SDSU 21. Walker and Tomes already have 17 points combined for the Falcons. Wetzell with 8 points to lead the Aztecs.
  • Schakel with a huge three for the Aztecs, there are a bunch of Aztec fans here, so any momentum swing is going to get them going.
  • Scottie answers with a 3 of his own to keep the Aztec fans quite.
  • 3:55 First Half: AFA 32 SDSU 26. Scottie just picked up his second foul for the Falcons.
  • The Falcons have six players that have scored at least 3 points and have hit 6-10 3-pointers in the first 16 minutes of the game.
  • Flynn picks up his second foul for the Aztecs.
  • SDSU fans hated a foul being called, water is also wet.
  • 1:46 First Half: AFA 34 SDSU 30
  • Swan picks up his second foul of the game.
  • Mitchell with a huge 3 and the bird calls are starting for the Aztec faithful.
  • Huge answer for the Falcons as they hit a 3 to keep a 4-point lead.
  • 39.2 left in the first half: AFA 37 SDSU 33
  • Halftime: AFA 37 SDSU 33.
  • Great first 20 minutes for the Falcons, as they were able to find open shots 15-25 (60% FG), 7-13 from 3.
  • Wetzell and Flynn have 2 fouls for SDSU, Scottie and Swan have 2 fouls for AFA.
  • Zero Free Throw Attempts in the first half for both teams.
  • We are set for the second half.
  • Get play out of halftime for the Falcons to build their lead to six.
  • Eight point lead for the Falcons.
  • Swan picks up foul number 3 at 16:44 left.
  • First Free Throw Attempts at 16:32.
  • Massive 3 for the Falcons.
  • 15:01 Second Half: AFA 44 SDSU 41.
  • Schakel with a 3 to tie it at 44, a huge couple of minutes for AFA.
  • AFA will get their first Free Throw Attempts with 12:14 left in the second half.
  • 12:00 Second Half: AFA 45 SDSU 44.
  • AFA has made this a game. If they can avoid the big SDSU run they will have a shot to knock off the top seed.
  • Swan picked up foul number 4 at 12:00.
  • Schakel with his third 3 of the game to give SDSU a 2-point lead.
  • All of a sudden a 4-point SDSU lead.
  • 10:04 Second Half: SDSU 52 AFA 45. 8-0 run for SDSU.
  • MVP Chants for Malachi Flynn after he knocks down a 3 to give the Aztecs a 7 point lead.
  • Schakel with his 4th 3 of the game and SDSU now leads by 10 and counting.
  • Swan fouls out with 8:07 left. It probably ends a great career.
  • Mitchell with a 3 and this one is over.
  • 7:02 Second Half: SDSU 60 AFA 47. SDSU is on a 16-2 run.
  • 3:00 Second Half: SDSU 64 AFA 56.
  • Schakel with another 3 to give the Aztecs an 11-point lead with just over a minute left.
  • SDSU with a great second half. Won the second 20 minutes 40-23.
  • Final: SDSU 73 AFA 60. SDSU will move on to the Semifinals against the winner of UNLV and Boise State.
  • Final: Boise State 67 UNLV 61.
  • We are about 20 minutes away from New Mexico vs. Utah State. The two teams played on Saturday in Albuquerque with the Lobos winning 66-64.
  • The Lobos will be without Vante Hendrix (played yesterday) but isn’t with the team.
  • Mentioned this on Twitter. com: UNLV hasn’t won the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas since 2008, and has played in two finals since then (2010 & 2013). Since then: New Mexico has won 3 Titles (2012, 2013, & 2014) and a finals appearance (2018), SDSU has won 3 Titles (2010, 2011, &2018), and 6 finals appearances (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2019). Other programs to win Titles: Utah (2009), Wyoming (2015), Fresno State (2016), Nevada (2017), Utah State (2019).
  • The best hair in Utah State Basketball history is in the building. Sean Harris got rid of the high top fade.
  • The Lobos will be wearing their Cherry uniforms tonight, and USU will be wearing their home white uniforms.
  • Starters for tonight’s game: Zane Martin, JaQuan Lyle, Makuach Maluach, Vance Jackson, Corey Manigault. USU starters: Sam Merrill, Abel Porter, Neemias Queta, Diogo Brito, Justin Bean.
  • 15:35 1H: USU 13 Lobos 5. Sam Merrill with 7 early points for the Aggies. Lobos have been able to get Queta in foul trouble which should help them stay in this game.
  • The Lobos will have 2 Free Throws after the Media Time Out.
  • 11:54 1H: USU 20 Lobos 7. USU is 9-11 shooting, the Lobos are 3-13.
  • The Lobos are lucky that it is only a 13 point difference right now. They need to start hitting some shots and hope that USU doesn’t shoot over 80%.
  • Ball movement needs to get better for the Lobos, the ball is sticking and not changing sides of the floor. Zero assists for the first nine-plus minutes.
  • 3:22 1H: USU 31 Lobos 27. Vance Jackson will have a 1-1 after the TO.
  • JaQuan Lyle is carrying the offense for the Lobos so far tonight. Already has 16 points.
  • A big moment during the last run, Queta should have been called for his 3rd foul of the game (wasn’t), Martin tried to take a charge and was called for his 3rd foul.
  • 23.2 1H: USU 33 Lobos 31. 
  • Halftime: Lobos 33 USU 33. Lyle with 16 points to lead all scorers in the first half. Merrill had 11 quick points but was held in check during the Lobos run.
  • Lobos were down 20-7 at the under 12 TO and finished the last 12 minutes on a 26-13 run.
  • Lobos did a very good job of taking care of the ball in the first half, only 2 turnovers. Lobos will need to do a better job of moving the ball (only 3 assists in the first half). The ball was sticking for the first 8-10 minutes but started to move side to side during the last 10 plus minutes.
  • Foul trouble in the first half: Zane Martin with 3 for the Lobos, and Neemias Queta with 3 for the Aggies. Kurt Wegscheider has 2 for the Lobos, while Justin Bean, Abel Porter, and Sean Bairstow have 2 each for the Aggies. If the Lobos are able to get number 4 on Queta early in the 2nd half, they could put the Aggies in a difficult spot.
  • 15:34 2H: USU 42 Lobos 39 
  • 13:06 2H: Lobos 49 USU 43. Lobos are on a 10-1 run and have taken over after Merrill picked up foul number 4.
  • USU doesn’t have a good ball-handler outside of Merrill. Smith has to roll the dice or they will not win this game.
  • 11:41 2H: Lobos 49 USU 45. Lobos will have a 1-1 after the TO.
  • 9:41 2H: Lobos 57 USU 46
  • 7:36 2H: Lobos 60 USU 53. USU will have a Free Throw after the TO. Lobos had a chance to get the lead over 10 again, but a turnover and fast break and 1 have USU still in this one.
  • Lobos 5 turnovers, USU 16 turnovers.
  • 3:50 2H: Lobos 63 USU 61. Merrill with 2 Free Throws after the TO. Wegscheider fouls out for the Lobos.
  • 2:31 2H: USU 68 Lobos 65. Merrill with 29 points for the Aggies.
  • Final: USU 75 Lobos 70. Lobos season ends at 19-14.