Hobbled Hillman powers SDSU
MONDAY November 28, 2011 Volume 97, Issue 49 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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PETER KLUCH, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Agustin Gonzalez staff writer LAS VEGAS — The San Diego State football team has set a trend this season that has been so consistent, it could almost be scripted: start out sluggish in the first half, fall into an early hole, then turn on the jets in the second half and come out with the win in the end. That’s exactly what SDSU did against UNLV on the road on Saturday night, holding the Rebels scoreless in the second half and scoring 31 unanswered points to leave Las Vegas with a 31-14 victory. “We care and we try to address it
every week,” head coach Rocky Long said about the slow start. “We talk about it all the time, we try to train it by the way we practice. I don’t know why, on defense that’s SDSU 31 the way we’ve been all seaOn UNLV 14 son. offense that’s kind of a new phenomenon here in the last three or four weeks, so maybe they’re taking their lessons from the defense.” Sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman brushed off a high-ankle sprain to rush for 192 yards and two touchdowns against UNLV, and surpassed 3,000 rushing yards for his career. Senior quarterback Ryan
Lindley had a poor first half, going 5for-14 with an interception before intermission, but tossed a couple of touchdowns to sophomore receivers Colin Lockett and Dylan Denso in the second half. Lindley also added another school record to his résumé, breaking Todd Santos’ career completions record. But what really won the game for the Aztecs was their second half defense. Out of the 265 points SDSU has allowed this season, only 65 were allowed in the second half. On Saturday, the Aztecs only gave up 28 yards of offense after halftime and UNLV’s drives finished with a punt, punt, turnover on downs, punt and interception. “It’s been the same story for 11
games now,” senior defensive lineman Larry Gibbs said. “It’s a really interesting story because nothing is said, nothing is changed, we just have to come out and play better. That’s all (Coach) tells us, and that’s exactly what we do.” The victory gives the Aztecs a 7-4 record, and with Air Force beating Colorado State, the Mountain West now has five bowl-eligible teams for four bowl berths – making SDSU’s bowl picture even murkier with only one more game remaining against Fresno State. “I don’t feel confident at all,” Long said. “I told some people at the beginning of the week I don’t think it matters if we’re 8-4, 7-5 or 6-6. I think it’s all the luck of the draw now.”
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Thames tames the Gauchos in win SDSU won its fourth straight game by less than four points Ryan Schuler staff writer It was like déja vu. Everything was basically the same. It was a Saturday game against a Big West Conference opponent. There was overtime. And sophomore guard Jamaal Franklin hit key free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory. The only difference: the venue. Franklin hit three free throws in the final 15 seconds of overtime as SDSU (7-1) defeated UC Santa Barbara on the road, 76-75, in a game that looked much like the Aztecs’ overtime win against Long Beach State earlier this season. “We just found a way to win,” junior guard James Rahon said. “That’s all I can say. We’re all winners, and we just find a way – even when things aren’t going well.” With the win, the Aztecs have won 48 straight against unranked opponents, 18 straight against California universities and nine straight against teams from the Big West Conference, which may turn out to be SDSU’s new home after the conference realign-
ments are all said and done. Sophomore guard Xavier Thames recorded his first career double-double by scoring 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Chase Tapley finished the game with 16 points, while Franklin contributed 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. The defining moment of the game came in overtime. UCSB (4-1) was down by three with just secSDSU 76 onds left as O r l a n d o UCSB 75 Johnson dove for a loose ball. A Gaucho player proceeded to call a timeout, despite not having any remaining. This is much like when Chris Webber called a timeout for Coach Steve Fisher’s Michigan Wolverines team in the 1993 NCAA championship game. And just like in 1993, the result was a technical foul. Johnson scored a game-high 26 points for the Gauchos, while James Nunnally added 16. “It’s the will to win, you know what I mean?” senior forward Tim Shelton said. “The guys just banded together and we got a win. We’re competitive and we believe we’re going to win. Put that together and add some heart, and this is what can happen.” The Aztecs will try to continue their winning ways as Creighton visits for a game at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Viejas Arena.
“Since ... 1998, Reed has overseen an increase in student fees of 263 percent ... (and) average faculty salaries have decreased when adjusted for inflation, while administrators’ salaries have increased.”
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OPINION
W E AT H E R : PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 75 LOW: 50 SUNSET: 4:42 PM ANTONIO ZARAGOZA, PHOTO EDITOR