In a thrilling victory on Saturday, the San Diego State University (SDSU) Aztecs edged out the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Owls, 72-71, clinching a spot in the NCAA tournament final on Monday. The Aztecs managed to erase a 14-point deficit, securing their win with a last-second shot.
The SDSU basketball team etched their names in Mountain West Conference history, becoming the first team to represent the conference in the Elite Eight. Now, the Aztecs have led the conference to its inaugural national championship appearance.
The game began with FAU jumping out to an early 5-point lead, but the Aztecs fired back with a 14-point scoring burst. The Owls quickly rebounded, and the game stayed close for most of the first half. With 6 minutes till halftime, Florida Atlantic started to build an advantage however, leading 40-33 at half. FAU’s offense was their strong point in the first 20 minutes, putting up impressive numbers against the notoriously formidable San Diego defense.
The second half saw the Owls maintain their momentum, transforming their 7-point lead into a 14-point gap. FAU Sophomore Alijah Martin came alive during this run, scoring 17 points and leading his team to a commanding advantage. With about 8 minutes remaining, SDSU began a slow and sure comeback, spearheaded by guard Matt Bradley and an incredible team effort on the boards. The Aztecs’ prowess in securing offensive rebounds in the final minutes ultimately set them up for a chance to win. Trailing 71-70 late in the game, SDSU regained possession with 18 seconds on the clock. Following a swift defensive stand and rebound, the Aztecs moved the ball down the court to set up a game-winning shot, opting not to use their final timeout. With mere milliseconds left, SDSU’s Lamont Butler nailed a jumper, winning the game as time expired
This is the first time ever that a Mountain West team has punched a ticket to the final of the men’s tournament. This is great news for Pokes fans, with additional funding being awarded to all men’s basketball teams in the Mountain West due to the Aztecs’ success. As mentioned last week in the article “Cowboys Mountain West counterparts SDSU Make Final Four”, around three million dollars will be split between each Mountain West program. Although it may be difficult for Cowboys fans to cheer for a conference rival, their success has aided the University of Wyoming’s men’s basketball program. In a year full of upsets, the Aztecs have been able to survive the madness and stay in it. Monday, SDSU will face UConn in the national championship held in Houston, TX at 7:20 p.m. MST.
