Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Despite leading by 17 points midway through the first-half, top-seeded and 18th-ranked Utah State could not sustain its early success and lost to fifth-seeded San Diego State 86-70 here on Friday night in the semifinals of the Mountain West Championship.
Utah State used a 22-2 run in the first half to turn a 15-12 deficit into a 34-17 advantage at the 7:25 mark. However, the Aztecs responded by closing the half on a 19-5 run to trail by just three points at the half. Foul trouble was the undoing for the Aggies as redshirt freshman guard
Mason Falslev sat the final 8:47 of the first half and junior wing
Great Osobor sat the final 6:23 with two fouls each.
Both teams traded baskets for the first five minutes of the second half as the game was tied 51-51 at the 15:18 mark. From that point, however, San Diego State went on a 16-3 run to build a 13-point advantage. USU fought back to within seven points at 75-68 with 3:13 to play, but the Aztecs finished the game on an 11-2 run to post the 16-point win.
Osobor led Utah State with 19 points and five rebounds, while senior guard
Ian Martinez had 16 points and redshirt sophomore center
Isaac Johnson added 11 points.
Utah State finished the game shooting 40.0 percent (22-of-55), including 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range, and 65.6 percent (21-of-32) at the free throw line.
San Diego State shot 46.8 percent (29-of-62), including 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from 3-point range, and 66.7 percent (20-of-30) from the free throw line.
San Diego State also outrebounded Utah State by eight (43-25) and had a 13-2 advantage on points off turnovers as the Aztecs turned it over just five times as compared to eight giveaways for the Aggies.
Utah State will now wait for Selection Sunday to find its next opponent as the Aggies will be playing in its 24th NCAA Tournament, including its fourth in the last six years and its 13th since 1998.
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