New Mexico returns to the MWC Championship game for the first time since 2001 when it lost to BYU, 65-69. Utah is making its second straight appearance in the finals (73-70 title game win vs. UNLV in 2004).
New Mexico won its only meeting vs. Utah in MWC Tournament play in the 2001 semifinals, 56-53. The Lobos and Utes also split four meetings in conference tournament play prior to their MWC affiliation. They met in the finals of the WAC Tournament in 1996 with the Lobos winning, 64-60, at The Pit.
This marks the first time the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will meet in the finals of the MWC Tournament. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are unbeaten when they make it to the finals. UNLV won the title as a No. 1 seed in 2000, while No. 2 seed BYU captured the crown the following year.
The Lobos are now 4-5 in MWC Tournament games and a perfect 2-0 in semifinal contests. With the UNM win, the No. 2 seed improved to 2-4 all-time in MWC Tournament semifinal games, while the No. 6 seed lost for the first time in the semifinals. SDSU fell to 4-5 all-time in MWC Tournament games, including a 1-1 mark in semifinal contests.
New Mexico opened the game with three straight three-pointers by three different players (Troy DeVries, Alfred Neale, Danny Granger) for a 9-0 lead just 1:15 into the game. The Lobos stretched the lead to 26-14 midway through the first stanza. The Aztecs went on a 10-2 run to close the gap to 28-24, but the Lobos responded with another 8-0 spurt. SDSU scored the last four points of the half for a 36-28 Lobo lead at intermission.
SDSU tied a season-low with 22.6 percent (7-of-31) shooting from the field in the first half. The Aztecs also shot 22.6 percent in the first half vs. BYU Jan. 8 and went on to win that game, 59-57.
Marcus Slaughter (10), Chris Walton (8) and Brandon Heath (6) combined for 24 of the 28 Aztec points in the first half. Chris Manker had the other four points. Slaughter, Walton and Heath each averaged an even 12 points apiece vs. the Lobos in the two regular season meetings. Slaughter and Heath combined for 45 of the Aztecs' 67 points in tonight's game, including 29-of-39 points in the second half.
By halftime, Danny Granger appeared in every statistical category: 3-of-6 field goals, 1-of-2 three-pointers, 2-of-2 free throws, three offensive boards, five defensive boards, three assists, a block and a steal. Granger is one of only two players (Andrew Bogut) in the MWC to lead their team in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks. Both players also rank third among teammates for assists.
Granger recorded his 11th double-double of the season and 19th of his career with 22 points and 14 rebounds vs. SDSU. His 14 boards tied for second overall in MWC Tournament play and is the semifinal record, surpassing the mark of 11 boards by Dalron Johnson (UNLV in 2002) and Nate Altoff (Utah in 2000).
Granger tallied all five New Mexico blocks in tonight's game, setting the MWC Tournament semifinal record and tying the overall mark set by Josh Davis (Wyoming) vs. SDSU 3/8/01.
New Mexico starters scored 73 of the team's 77 points, while SDSU starters tallied 59-of-67 Aztec points for an overall total 132 points in the game from starters and just 12 from the bench.
Marcus Slaughter had a game-high 11 free throw attempts, hitting nine. Slaughter led the league in free throw attempts this season (202).
New Mexico head coach Ritchie McKay is 2-5 all-time in conference tournaments with both wins coming at this year's MWC Tournament. SDSU head coach Steve Fisher is 4-5 all-time in conference tournament action.
SCORING NOTE: Prior to this season, only two MWC players had scored double figures every game in a season (Ruben Douglas, UNM, and Ceedric Goodwyn, CSU). This year, two MWC players are on the verge of joining the list (depending on postseason invites):
Longest double figure scoring streaks in the MWC
G
Player, Team
Span
38
Ruben Douglas, New Mexico
2001-03
33*
Andrew Bogut, Utah
2003-05 (every game in 2004-05)
30
Ceedric Goodwyn, Colorado State
1999-00
27*
Marcus Slaughter, San Diego State
2004-05 (every game in 2004-05)
27*
Jay Straight, Wyoming
2004-05
26
Mike Mackell, San Diego State
2001-03
26*
Matt Nelson, Colorado State
2004-05
*notes active streak
The Only MWC Players To Score Double Figures in Every Game During a Season (prior to 2004-05)
Ruben Douglas, New Mexico
2002-03
Ceedric Goodwyn, Colorado State
1999-00
MWC TOURNAMENT SINGLE-GAME RECORDS OF NOTE
Points - Sophomore record
28 -- Brandon Heath, SDSU, vs. Air Force (tied Matt Nelson, CSU, vs. Utah, 3/7/02)
Rebounds
17 -- Andrew Bogut, Utah, vs. CSU (tied Kaspers Kambala, UNLV, vs. SDSU, 3/9/00)
Rebounds - Semifinal record (tied for second overall)
14 -- Danny Granger, New Mexico, vs. SDSU
Assists - Junior record (second overall)
12 -- Mark Walters, New Mexico, vs. BYU
Three-field goal percentage - Sophomore record (tied for second overall) (min. 5 att.)
80% (4-of-5) -- Michael Umeh, UNLV, vs. Wyoming
Three-pointers made - Sophomore record
t-4 -- Michael Umeh, UNLV, vs. Wyoming
Matt McCraw, Air Force, vs. SDSU
(tied Richard Chaney, Utah, vs. UNLV 3/13/04 and Ruben Douglas, UNM, vs. CSU 3/8/01)
Free throws made
18 -- Ricky Morgan, UNLV, vs. Wyoming
Free throws attempted
19 -- Ricky Morgan, UNLV, vs. Wyoming
Free throw percentage - Sophomore record (min. 10 att.)
100% (10-of-10) -- Brandon Heath, SDSU, vs. Air Force (tied for first overall)
94.7% (18-of-19) -- Ricky Morgan, UNLV, vs. Wyoming (fifth overall)
Blocks - Freshman record (tied for second overall)
4 -- Jason Smith, CSU, vs. Utah
Blocks - Senior record, Semifinal record (tied for first overall)
5 -- Danny Granger, UNM, vs. SDSU
TEAM Most points in a half - Semifinal
49 -- UNLV vs. Utah (tied UNLV vs. Wyoming 3/10/00)
Fewest points in a half - Semifinal
18 -- UNLV vs. Utah
