Colorado State Rams at San Diego State Aztecs

Hemsley, Aztecs hold off CSU 69-67 for 10th straight win

Then the Aztecs did what they've done really well this season, and that's play a harassing defense.

Jeremy Hemsley banked in a go-ahead shot with 1:07 left and SDSU's defense came up huge in the final minutes for a 69-67 victory that extended the Aztecs' winning streak to 10 to open MWC play.

"We had just enough efficiency to get ourselves a win," coach Steve Fisher said. "I'm smart enough to know there's not a whole lot of separation in the games that we've had, and we're sitting at 10-0. But good teams find ways, and we've done that. I hope we can continue to do that."

It certainly wasn't pretty.

The Aztecs (17-6, 10-0) won despite making just 3 of 6 free throws in the final 24.3 seconds.

Trey Kell had 19 points, Hemsley 16, Winston Shepard 14 and Malik Pope 10.

Leading 65-64, Colorado State ran the shot clock down but Joe De Ciman's shot was blocked by Pope, setting up Hemsley's bank shot for a 66-65 lead.

Hemsley had a steal and Kell was fouled with 24.3 seconds left, making just 1 of 2. Kell then forced a turnover and Hemsley was fouled with 8.3 seconds left, also splitting a pair.

With the clock winding down, Hemsley fouled John Gillon before he could get off a long 3-pointer. Gillon made both free throws to pull CSU within one.

Shepard was fouled with five seconds left and made the first free throw before missing the second.

Gillon missed a layup at the buzzer that would have sent it to overtime.

"I'm pleased that we're sitting here 10-0," Fisher said. "We've got to play better but that's what everybody says. I'm glad I'm saying, `Gotta play better,' at 10-0 than 9-1."

De Ciman scored 17 for Colorado State (12-10, 4-5), while Prentiss Nixon had 15 and Antwan Scott 12.

"I think we should be extremely disappointed," CSU coach Larry Eustachy said. "I think we were anxious to play a really good team. We aren't going to do what we want to do this year, but what I loved was that we played the best half this team has played all year long. I thought we adapted to the environment well. We stayed on an even keel."

Kell scored five straight points for the Aztecs during one stretch, including a putback for a 62-59 lead with 3:58 to go. De Ciman and Scott then made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give the Rams a 65-62 lead. Pope banked in a shot just before the shot clock expired to pull SDSU to one.

The Aztecs trailed by 10 points with eight minutes to go in the first half before going on a 17-3 run to take a 32-28 halftime lead. Kell hit a key 3-pointer in the run, Hemsley also made a shot from behind the arc and Pope had a slam dunk.

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TIP-INS

Colorado St.: The Rams outrebounded SDSU in a loss at Fort Collins earlier this year, the only MWC team to do so. On Tuesday night, they were outrebounded 38-28.

San Diego St.: The Aztecs extended a school record by winning their 12th straight MWC game.

UP NEXT

Colorado State hosts Nevada on Saturday.

San Diego State hosts New Mexico on Saturday.

How can I watch Colorado State vs. San Diego State?

• TV Channel: Colorado State at San Diego State 2021 College Basketball, week 13, is broadcasted on ESPN2.
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