LAS VEGAS — Colorado State’s second-team all-conference forward Andy Ogide was ejected in the first half for a flagrant foul and CSU still nearly knocked San Diego State off the NCAA bubble.
San Diego State barely survived 72-71 today in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
CSU freshman Dorian Green drew a crowd when he went up for the would-be go-ahead shot and passed the ball instead. It went out of bounds with 6.7 seconds left.
After two missed Aztecs foul shots, Travis Busch’s prayer at the buzzer went unanswered.
The outside shooting that all but deserted the Rams in the last few weeks made a last ditch appearance. Green and Adam Nigon combined for 6-of-9 behind the 3-point arc. Green hit a big 3 to tie the game 64-all and Travis Henry gave CSU a 65-64 edge with 4:52 left.
Billy White gave San Diego State its biggest lead down the stretch at 70-66. But two foul shots from Travis Franklin and a basket and foul shot by Green put the Rams in front 71-70. D.J. Gay connected twice at the foul line for the Aztecs with 23.6 seconds left.
There’s still no guarantee San Diego State’s name will be call Sunday for the NCAA bracket, but the Aztecs avoided almost sure elimination. The MWC is hoping for a first-ever four tournament teams.
San Diego State (23-8), the No. 4 seed, advanced to the semifinals against MWC champ New Mexico Friday night. CSU (16-15) has to hope to get a call from one the CBI or CIT, two relatively new invitational tournaments.
CIT director Riley Wallace, the former Hawaii coach retired to Las Vegas, said CSU had been on the board for consideration until absorbing a 70-39 blowout at UNLV last month.
Ogide had six points, four rebounds and an assist when he was bounced for an elbow to San Diego State’s Brian Carlwell with 6:27 left in the first half. Carlwell, a 6-foot-11, 297 pound transfer from Illinois, earlier drew a technical from Ogide’s backup, Mame Bocar Ba.
CSU coach Tim Miles, clearly frustrated to have his best player permanently on the bench, completed the trifecta. He was given a technical with 9.3 seconds left in the first half.
