Fort Collins – Colorado State stood around in the second half Saturday night as if trying to decide whether to lose to San Diego State by 10 points or 15 when Rams junior guard Cory Lewis ignited dormant Moby Arena.
His 18 points in the final 10 minutes of a career-high, 26-point game still weren’t enough against the Mountain West Conference-leading Aztecs.
San Diego State held on for an 85-81 victory, helped by the Aztecs’ 73.1 percent shooting in the first half. Their 63.8 percent shooting for the game was an all-time best for the Aztecs – home or away – in MWC play.
The Rams needed more than one hot hand on a night when the Aztecs’ Brandon Heath hit 10-of-13 shots for 28 points, followed closely by Marcus Slaughter’s 8-of-11 effort for 25 points. The fact Heath’s final points came on three foul shots with 9:48 left was a tribute to the efforts of designated defensive specialist Freddy Robinson. Certainly no one else among the Rams had much luck defending the Aztecs.
“Offense was not the problem, stopping them was the problem,” CSU coach Dale Layer said. “They have some terrific talent and made some big-time plays.
It was the sixth straight loss for CSU (12-10, 1-8), which has sole possession of last place in the MWC. CSU bemoaned playing four of its first five MWC games on the road. But the Rams have played three of their past four at home, and Saturday was the first sign of improved play. San Diego State (15-6, 8-1) remained a game ahead of Nevada-Las Vegas (13-8, 7-2).
San Diego State coach Steve Fisher could sympathize with Layer.
“It’s the nature of what we do,” Fisher said. “You play so hard and are so bitterly disappointed when you walk out of the gym with four points fewer than your opponent, and the trick is to be able to come back the next night and still battle. They’ve done that.”
CSU repeated a familiar pattern of going ahead early, falling behind at halftime and watching the opponent pull away to start the second half. Down 67-55, Lewis put up a 3-pointer with 10:09 left for his warmup shot. Slaughter increased the Aztecs’ lead to 76-62 before Lewis put up his next 3.
San Diego State answered with four quick points on Mohamed Abukar’s bank shot, a turnover and foul by CSU. Slaughter hit two free throws for an 80-65 lead with 5:49 left.
Lewis then scored eight straight points in a 14-0 run by CSU. He pulled CSU back within a point with a one- hander in the lane with 41 seconds left.
“I was just feeling it. I started to hit and it got my blood flowing,” Lewis said.
Slaughter made one of two foul shots with 20.6 seconds left for an 83-81 lead, ample time for CSU. But Jason Smith lost the ball while going for a shot. Stuart Creason recovered, but out of bounds.
CSU’s Sean Morris had the shot of the night in the first half when he took a pass with one second left on the shot clock and dropped in a 3-pointer.
SAN DIEGO STATE (15-6, 8-1 MWC)
Abukar 6-11 0-0 13, Slaughter 8-11 9-11 25, Heath 10-13 3-3 28, Williams 1-3 0-1 2, Thomas 2-3 0-1 4, Sharper 3-6 2-2 11, Davis 0-0 2-2 2, Camara 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-47 16-20 85.
COLORADO STATE (12-10, 1-8)
Smith 7-15 2-4 16, Harrison 5-8 2-2 12, Lewis 9-15 5-5 26, M. Morris 1-1 0-0 2, Gilling 2-2 0-0 5, S. Morris 2-6 2-2 8, Harris 0-2 0-0 0, Robinson 2-6 0-0 4, Patterson 0-0 0-0 0, Creason 2-2 4-4 8. Totals 30-57 15-17 81.
Halftime – San Diego State 45-39. 3-point goals – San Diego State 9-15 (Heath 5-7, Sharper 3-5, Abukar 1-2, Williams 0-1); Colorado State 6-13 (Lewis 3-5, S. Morris 2-5, Gilling 1-1, Robinson 0-1, Harris 0-1). Fouled out – Harrison. Rebounds – San Diego State 23 (Slaughter 11), Colorado State 27 (Robinson 8). Assists – San Diego State 19 (Heath 5, Thomas 5, Williams 5); Colorado State 12 (Lewis 4). Total fouls – San Diego State 18, Colorado State 19. A – 3,972.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
