It came down to the wire, but the U men’s basketball team preserved its conference home winning streak, which now stands at 46.
Utah (12-3, 2-0 MWC) used 14 trifectas, the second-most by any U team, to claim its ninth straight win in defeating the San Diego State Aztecs (10-6, 0-2) 76-70 in the Huntsman Center on Monday night.
“It was a hell of a college game,” said coach Rick Majerus of the late-game anxiety.
The way it started, it wasn’t cut out to be. One game removed from setting the school record of 17 3s in a game, Utah came out firing. On the power of five treys, Utah commanded an 18-4 lead after two Travis Spivey free throws.
However, the biscuit had trouble finding the basket from there. SDSU settled in and went on a 19-2 run after an Al Faux 3 in transition to lead 23-20.
Utah found the touch before halftime, as Phil Cullen, Trace Caton and Nick Jacobson connected on 3s as the U led 36-30 at the break.
The Aztecs knotted the game at 42 four minutes into the half, and would control the lead the next seven minutes. A low-post feed to Mike Mackell from guard Deandre Moore resulted in a dunk and a 4 point Aztec lead with 13:11 to go.
Utah regained the lead at 51 50 following a Britton Johnsen 3, but SDSU regained a 4-point edge, 61-57, with 6:35 remaining.
The next few minutes were see-saw, but SDSU held a 65 63 advantage. Jacobson answered with a 3, and then collected a Tony Bland misfire.
On the offensive end, Caton drew iron, but Britton Johnsen grabbed the o-reb. Jeff Johnsen slashed to the basket but missed the bunny. He rebounded his own shot, and the ball ended up in the hands of Jacobson for a 2-pointer and a 3-point Utah lead, 68-65.
SDSU’s Bland found a lane with just over a minute to go, but Britton Johnsen came from behind for the swat.
After a timeout, Spivey’s jumper was off, and Britton Johnsen’s tip-in didn’t find the hoop either. But Jeff Johnsen picked off an errant Randy Holcomb pass and scored.
Utah led 70-65 with 35 ticks remaining, as Jeff Johnsen and Spivey hit free throws down the stretch.
“We missed a lot of easy shots at the rim, I don’t know why,” Majerus said.
One player who wasn’t missing a lot of shots was Jacobson. The sophomore sharpshooter hit 9-14 from the field, and his 7 treys tied a 12-year school record. But Jacobson wasn’t even aware of the record, nor did he care.
“We’re trying to be a good team, so that takes precedence over anything,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to take those shots.”
“He understands that if [he] gives other people shots, shots are going to come to [him],” Majerus said.
“I wouldn’t say Nick was in a zone,” teammate Trace Caton said. “He always can shoot like that.”
Caton added 13 points, including three treys of his own. Jeff Johnsen scored 14, and brother Britton added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
SDSU couldn’t produce its second victory in the Huntsman Center, with its only-ever win there coming on Feb. 25, 1982.
The MWC’s leading rebounder and scorer, Randy Holcomb (18.3 ppg and 9.9 rpg), scored 14 points and had 9 rebounds. Tony Bland led the talented Aztecs with 22.
“There’s not going to be any gimmie games in the conference,” Jacobson said.