The last unbeaten team in NCAA Division I Men’s basketball has finally been defeated after 26 straight wins.
Yanni Wetzell and the San Diego State Aztecs, a week after clinching the Mountain West Conference regular season title, lost 66-63 to University of Nevada Las Vegas. Wetzell posted 7 points and 4 rebounds in the loss.
The Aztecs righted the ship three days later with a gritty 66-60 home victory against Colorado State where Wetzell celebrated Senior Night, and his last game at home, with 6 points (all from the foul line), a team high 7 rebounds and a steal.
The Aztecs have one more regular season game at Nevada before heading to the Mountain West Championships in Las Vegas followed by a trip to the Big Dance, the NCAA Championships.
Dan Fotu, after a career-best performance, was named St Mary’s Student-Athlete of the Week. Dan compiled his first double-double for the Gaels in their 71-63 win against Pacific. He finished with 16 points (7/10FG) and 10 rebounds. St Mary’s are third on the West Coast Conference standings with a 10-4 record and a Top 40 ranking nationally – they too should be joining San Diego State at the NCAA Tournament.
In the Gaels latest outing they beat San Diego 92-63 with Fotu tabling 10 points and 3 rebounds.
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa equalled his career high in making 23 points in the Hornets agonising 77-76 loss at Eastern Washington. He was quieter in the 67-56 win against Idaho with 4 points, 5 rebounds and a pair of steals. Over the last 6 games the former St Pat’s College star has averaged 15.7 points on 47% (17/36) shooting from beyond the arc.
UC Riverside slipped to a fifth consecutive loss falling 56-55 to Hawaii. Callum McRae led the Highlanders with his 16 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. In four of the five straight losses the margin was four points or less
Matt Freeman scored 11 points (5/8FG) as UCSB beat Fullerton 75-66 to improve to 6-5 in the Big West Conference. Freeman also pulled down 4 rebounds.
De Paul University were beaten 91-71 by Villanova but at least Flynn Cameron had something to smile about. The former Junior Tall Black has seen very little court time this season but against Villanova scored 7 points and also had a steal and a rebound.
Also short of game time has been Sam Timmins. The former Tall Black made his first start of the season for Washington in their 72-64 defeat against Stanford. He finished with 4 points, 6 rebounds and a couple of assists. Timmins followed that with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and a couple of blacks as Washington dominated California Berkeley winning 87-52.
Jackson Stent hit 8 points for Houston Baptist in their 73-70 loss to Sam Houston State University.
LACEY LOWDOWN 