San Diego State routs Northern Arizona 89-48
Associated Press
11/28/09 5:45 PM PST
SAN DIEGO — Malcom Thomas scored 21 points, and San Diego State scored 23 of the game's first 25 points in an 89-48 rout of Northern Arizona on Saturday.
The Aztecs (4-2) made 11 of 15 shots and held the Lumberjacks without a basket for the first 8 1/2 minutes as they took a 23-2 lead. Northern Arizona missed its first eight shots and had six turnovers before Gabe Rogers finally scored on a 3-pointer at the 11:33 mark.
Tyrone Shelley added 17 points for San Diego State.
Thomas made 10 of 11 shots and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Shelley came off the bench to hit 8 of 10 shots for the Aztecs, who shot 56.3 percent from the field.
Cameron Jones scored 12 points and DeAngelo Jones added 10 for Northern Arizona (2-3).
The 41-point margin was San Diego State's third-largest winning margin in 11 seasons at Viejas Arena.
Billy White scored 12 points, and Chase Tapley and Kelvin Davis had 11 each for the Aztecs, who finished with a 43-23 rebounding edge. Kawhi Leonard added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
San Diego dominated the first half, shooting 55.3 percent from the field compared to 26.3 percent for the Lumberjacks. The Aztecs held a 23-7 rebounding edge, including 11 offensive boards, en route to a 45-18 halftime lead.
San Diego State used its height advantage and smothering defense to produced 11 turnovers and score 34 of its first-half points in the paint.
Tapley led the early onslaught, scoring six of the Aztecs' first 13 points and assisting on Billy White's alley-oop dunk. San Diego State never trailed nor was tied after White scored a basket off the opening tip five seconds into the game.
