UNM, SDSU prepare for game by licking wounds

LAS VEGAS — Hey Aztecs, ask nicely, and you shall receive.

A group of San Diego State fans in the Thomas & Mack Center yelled, “We want the Lobos!” in the first half of SDSU’s opening game against No. 7 seeded Colorado State on Thursday.

And the request was granted for the small contingent of Aztec maniacs in the crowd.

San Diego State will play in Mountain West Conference tournament men’s semifinals against UNM, after a physical victory over the Rams, 72-71.
It’s the game San Diego State players wanted just as badly, if not more than their fans.

“This is a game we have been asking for and been looking forward too,” said SDSU guard D.J. Gay. “We are 1-1 right now (against them), and this game is a tiebreaker on neutral ground. Our team is very excited to play them. They are a very good team and had a great win today. They have very good players, you know, (Darington) Hobson and (Dairese) Gary are leading the way for their team.”

So, what are the keys for the Lobos and the Aztecs if they desire to advance to the MWC championship game on Saturday?
How about some rest and a little medical attention?

Two of the more important players for UNM and SDSU have some nicks and bruises.

UNM’s first-team All-MWC point guard, Gary got banged up in the Lobos 75-69 win over Air Force Thursday.
“Our trainers have got to earn some money in the next 20 hours,” said UNM head basketball coach Steve Alford.
On the Aztec sideline, guard Chase Tapley injured his left hand.

The injury didn’t stop Tapley, though. He scored 15 points against the Rams in spite of a swollen hand.

SDSU men’s basketball coach Steve Fisher said he isn’t 100 percent certain about Tapley’s availability against UNM.
“I’m somewhat concerned about Chase’s hand,” he said. “But that’s my only worry about our team. We’ll be ready to play tomorrow. We want to be playing on Saturday and to do that you got to win tomorrow. We know we’re playing a great team from New Mexico.”
Much likes Fisher’s squad, Alford and Co. battled through a hard-fought game.

Fisher said his athletes should be ready to play despite a short layoff. He said his players are so fit they could play back-to-back games on the same day.

“I’ve been in this game long enough to know that things happen,” Fisher said. “Our kids are 18, 19 and 20 years old. They’ll be ready to play. They could go out and play New Mexico right now and probably play pretty effectively.”