Men’s Basketball Struggles at San Diego State

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego State went on a 23-2 run to start the game en route to an 89-45 victory over Northern Arizona Saturday at the Viejas Arena in the final game of the West Coast Classic.

“It was not a good performance today,” said Head Coach Mike Adras. “We did not play our best. San Diego State was more aggressive and put the heat on us early and often. We did not do a good job of responding.”

NAU struggled from the field all day shooting just 26.5 percent from the field including a 4-for-24 effort from the three-point stripe. The Lumberjacks only success came at the line, going 18-for-19 for a season-best 94 percent.

Playing without juniors Shane Johannsen and Eric Platt due to injury, NAU was without two of their top four scorers entering the game.

The Aztecs had six players in double figures aided by 60 points in the paint, 23 points in off turnovers and a 23-0 advantage in fast break points.

SDSU forward Malcolm Thomas had a game-high 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting.

Sophomore Josh Lepley played just 10 minutes before fouling out in the contest.

Junior Cameron Jones led the Lumberjacks with his fifth straight game in double figures with 12 points and junior DeAngelo Jones contributed 10 points.

SDSU shot 56 percent for the game and out-rebounded NAU 43-23. while committing just seven turnovers and forcing 12 steals.

NAU opens Big Sky Conference play on Friday at Montana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Sodexo Lumberjack Radio Network and seen on Big Sky Television.