‘San Diego State is the standard’

SAN DIEGO – The Wyoming Cowboys saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday evening, falling to San Diego State 87-57 inside Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif.

SDSU held the Pokes to 30 percent from the field and shot 55 from the field themselves on their way to the win.

“San Diego State is the standard of the league and it starts on the defensive end of the floor,” UW head Coach Jeff Linder said. “With as young a team as we have, we are competing against one of the oldest in the country. It is good to experience that, but when you play against a team of their caliber and get their best shot it is tough. We dug a deep hole and we will take things away from this and be ready for Saturday.”

The Cowboys were led by sophomore Kwane Marble II who added 15 points for his seventh game in double-figures this season and his third-straight. He also tied a career high with nine rebounds. Freshman forward Graham Ike netted 10 for his second-straight game in double figures since debuting last weekend. He also added six rebounds. Freshman Marcus Williams did not reach double-figures for the first time this season, but did added seven assists for the night.

Wyoming allowed 11 three-pointers on the night. The Cowboys had allowed 11 total makes in the last three games combined. The Aztecs were lethal in transition in the contest, scoring 17 points and adding 15 points off turnovers.

Both teams opened the contest going 2-of-3 from the field with a triple for a 5-5 contest in the opening two minutes of action. The Aztecs would go on an 8-0 run with a pair of three-pointers to build a 19-7 with 15:06 remaining in the first half.

San Diego State added to its lead at 26-11, hitting three-straight field goals at the 12:45 mark of the half. SDSU added a 10-0 run for a 36-13 lead halfway through the frame opening the game 15-of-21 from the field for 71 percent.

The Aztecs would build a 46-18 lead with under seven minutes left in the half, opening the game 6-of-8 from behind the arc for 75 percent, as Wyoming was held to 2-of-12 from deep. Ike would get to double-figures to close the half, but SDSU finished the frame hitting 6-of-8 from the field to take a 63-30 lead at the break.

Both offenses started slow in the second frame with each team going scoreless for nearly three minutes with San Diego State maintaining a 67-33 lead. The Aztecs defense held the Pokes 1-of-7 from the field over three minutes to make it an 82-43 game with under seven minutes remaining.

Wyoming held the Aztecs scoreless for over four minutes, forcing five turnovers to make it an 82-49 game with under four minutes remaining. But the Aztecs first half was too much to overcome, taking the first contest of the series.

The Aztecs, who scored 63 points in the first half for the most in the first frame in MW history, had four players in double-figures. Jordan Schakel added 16 points and six rebounds. Matt Mitchell added 13 points and seven rebounds.

Wyoming and San Diego State wrap up their season series on Saturday in a contest on CBS Sports Network slated for an 8 p.m. MT start.