No. 20 San Diego State beats San Jose State in MW semis

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Keshad Johnson and Darrion Trammell every scored 15 factors and No. 20 San Diego State beat San Jose State 64-49 within the Mountain West Convention Match semifinals on Friday night time.

The highest-seeded Aztecs (26-6) superior to the championship recreation for the sixth consecutive yr. They are going to face Utah State — tipoff for deciding the Mountain West crown is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Aztecs shot 40.7% from the ground, hitting 22 of 54, together with 6 of 16 from 3-point vary.

“We’re only a group that bought an ideal chemistry,” stated Johnson, who made 6 of seven photographs. “And it’s March so everyone knows the place one another going to be at, and that’s simply proven on the court docket.”

Trammell bounced again after lacking all 5 of his photographs in Thursday’s quarterfinal win over Colorado State.

“My teammates and my coaches, they’ve been telling me simply hold capturing, simply hold going, hold going,” Trammell stated. “They put the final word belief in me, so I respect that from them.”

Tibet Gorener scored 15 factors for San Jose State (20-13).

The Aztecs held the Spartans to 19 of 55 capturing (34.5%), together with 5 of 19 from 3-point vary (26.3%). It was San Jose State’s fourth-worst capturing efficiency of the season.

“All these guys will let you know once they come to San Diego State they’re advised, ‘You defend at a excessive stage. In the event you don’t like taking part in protection, don’t come to this program, after which we’ll allow you to play with nice freedom offensively,’” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher stated. “So we play onerous on protection, and that’s why we’ve all the time had the success we’ve had. We defend and we rebound. Then we play with nice freedom on offense, and we make sufficient photographs to win video games.”

In two conferences this season, San Diego State held the Spartans to a mean of fifty factors on 34.6% capturing.

“San Diego State is elite defensively,” San Jose State coach Tim Miles stated. “We simply weren’t at our greatest however they’re a giant purpose for that. They’re robust all throughout the board. Then they’re collectively. They actually work onerous collectively. They’re related defensively particularly.”

After briefly falling behind by one early within the recreation, the Aztecs erupted for an 18-4 run to take a 25-12 lead with 2:59 left within the first half and weren’t threatened from there.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

San Diego State gained its forty fourth recreation on the Thomas & Mack Heart because the begin of the 2008-09 season, essentially the most victories by any group within the nation in any venue wherein it has not performed a house recreation.

SPARTAN SUCCESS

The Spartans loved their first 20-win season because the 1980-81 marketing campaign, together with this system’s first-ever match victory in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

“We’re not accomplished but, we’re going to be in a postseason match,” Miles stated.

BIG PICTURE

San Jose State: Main scorer Omari Moore, who got here in averaging 17.8 factors per recreation on 43.2% capturing, completed with seven factors on 3-of-13 capturing.

San Diego State: The Aztecs are 41-17 all-time within the Mountain West match, with essentially the most match wins by any group in league historical past.