Field Level Media
Feb 27, 2021
San Diego State secured its second nail-biting victory over Boise State in three days, defeating the visiting Broncos 62-58 on Saturday afternoon.
Jordan Schakel hit four free throws in the final 8.7 seconds and finished with a game-high 17 points as the Aztecs swept the back-to-back set.
No. 22 San Diego State (19-4, 13-3 Mountain West Conference) sits one win away from securing its eighth consecutive Mountain West Conference regular-season title if it can defeat UNLV in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
Only two days after Boise State (18-6, 14-5) erased a 17-point second-half deficit only to lose 78-66 in overtime, the Broncos trailed by nine late in the second half. Boise State pulled to within a point with 4:23 left after a 7-0 run and traded buckets down the stretch.
Devonaire Doutrive's layup with 16.2 seconds left pulled the Broncos within one again at 56-55.
The game became a free-throw contest down the stretch between Schakel and Doutrive, who scored 13 points.
Schakel went 4-for-4 and Doutrive made 3-of-4 missing the front end of a pair with 3.7 seconds to go. Matt Mitchell was then fouled on the ensuing possession and made two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Schakel picked up two fouls in the game's first eight minutes, but was able to return and impact the game in the second half.
Both teams were sluggish during a low-scoring first half as San Diego State led 24-20 at the break despite shooting 11-for-29 overall and 2-for-8 from 3-point range. Boise State was worse, shooting 7-for-31 from the field and a dismal 2-for-18 from 3 in the first half. Boise State finished shooting 5-for-26 from 3-point range.
Doutrive and Marcus Shaver Jr. each scored 13 points to lead the Broncos, and Mladen Armus finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Derrick Alston Jr., who had 29 points in the first meeting between the teams on Thursday, was held to seven points on 2-for-12 shooting.
--Field Level Media