COLOST

SDGST

Butler, No. 20 SDSU survive Colorado State 64-61 in MWC

AP
Mar 09, 2023

LAS VEGAS (AP) Lamont Butler scored 16 points and No. 20 San Diego State Aztecs held on to beat Colorado State Rams 64-61 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday.

The top-seeded Aztecs (25-6) never led by more than five points in the second half, and Isaiah Stevens’ 3-pointer gave the eighth-seeded Rams (15-18) a 59-58 lead with 1:42 left. Jordan LeDee and Matt Bradley each hit two free throws to give San Diego State a 62-59 lead with 16 seconds remaining.

“We knew this would be a hard game,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. “I told the guys whether we made them efficiently or not, we made the plays when the game was on the line. Whether it was the play, or the play after the play, I thought we made enough important ones.”

Stevens made a layup to pull Colorado State back within 62-61, but Nathan Mensah sealed the game with a free throw and a block at the basket to send the Aztecs into the semifinals, where they will play fifth-seeded San Jose State on Friday.

San Diego State beat Colorado State for the third time this season. The Aztecs won at Fort Collins 82-76 in overtime and then blew out the Rams 77-58 in San Diego.

Stevens, the Rams' leading scorer at 18 points per game, scored 16 points on 5-of-20 shooting Thursday.

“We really tried to just deny him the ball,” Butler said. “Make every shot hard for him. Stevens is a great player. It wasn’t just me or Adam (Seiko), it was a great team effort.”

Bradley had 13 points for the Aztecs. LaDee added 10 points and eight rebounds.

John Tonje led Colorado State with 17 points. Patrick Cartier added 12 and Jalen Lake had 10.

“We did a lot of things right today,” Colorado State coach Niko Medved said. “I don’t think we could have given a better effort. ... We guarded our tails off and just fought like crazy. We just needed one more play.”

Colorado State jumped out to an 8-0 lead and maintained its advantage until Bradley tied it at 20-20 on a 3-pointer with 7:24 left in the first half. It was the first basket of the game for Bradley, a first-team all-conference selection.

San Diego State took its first lead on a three-point-play by Butler that made it 25-24 and the Aztecs edged ahead 27-25 by halftime.

BIG PICTURE

Colorado State: The Rams will lose Stevens, a first-team all-conference selection, and Tonje - the team’s two leading scorers - along with graduate transfer Cartier. Junior Isaiah River is the leading returning scorer at 8.8 points per game.

San Diego State: The Aztecs will be going to the NCAA Tournament regardless of their performance the rest of the way in the conference tourney. But another win or two in Las Vegas could help San Diego State earn a higher NCAA seed.

---

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
COST
Rams
25
SDSU
Aztecs
27

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Patrick Cartier vs. Nathan Mensah (Rams gains possession)
19:32	+2	Patrick Cartier makes two point layup (Isaiah Rivera assists)	2-0
19:10		Lamont Butler misses two point jump shot
19:08		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
18:52		Nathan Mensah shooting foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
18:52	+1	John Tonje makes regular free throw 1 of 2	3-0
18:52	+1	John Tonje makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-0
18:32		Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot
18:30		Jalen Lake defensive rebound
18:18	+2	John Tonje makes two point turnaround jump shot	6-0
17:59		Isaiah Rivera personal foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul)
17:52		Darrion Trammell turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Lake steals)
17:43	+2	John Tonje makes two point layup (Jalen Lake assists)	8-0
17:28	+2	Keshad Johnson makes two point layup (Matt Bradley assists)	8-2
17:16		John Tonje misses two point layup
17:14		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
16:53		Nathan Mensah misses two point hook shot
16:51		Keshad Johnson offensive rebound
16:48		Keshad Johnson misses two point putback layup
16:46		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
16:43		Jalen Lake misses three point jump shot
16:41		Matt Bradley defensive rebound
16:41		John Tonje personal foul
16:28	+2	Jaedon LeDee makes two point layup	8-4
16:03		Isaiah Stevens misses three point jump shot
16:01		Lamont Butler defensive rebound
15:53		Adam Seiko misses three point jump shot
15:51		Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound
15:45	+3	Micah Parrish makes three point jump shot (Jaedon LeDee assists)	8-7
15:37	+2	John Tonje makes two point layup	10-7
15:07	+2	Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Jaedon LeDee assists)	10-9
14:30	+2	James Moors makes two point layup (Isaiah Stevens assists)	12-9
13:57		Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot
13:55		James Moors defensive rebound
13:30		Isaiah Stevens misses two point jump shot
13:28		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
13:12	+2	Jaedon LeDee makes two point layup (Micah Parrish assists)	12-11
12:45	+3	John Tonje makes three point jump shot	15-11
12:42		Rams 30 second timeout
12:42		TV timeout
12:16		Isaiah Stevens shooting foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul)
12:16	+1	Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	15-12
12:16	+1	Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	15-13
11:51		Patrick Cartier misses two point hook shot
11:50		Joe Palmer offensive rebound
11:50		Aguek Arop shooting foul (Joe Palmer draws the foul)
11:50		TV timeout
11:50	+1	Joe Palmer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	16-13
11:50		Joe Palmer misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:50		Micah Parrish defensive rebound
11:31		Aguek Arop misses two point layup
11:30		Aztecs offensive rebound
11:27	+2	Adam Seiko makes two point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists)	16-15
11:04		Darrion Trammell blocks Taviontae Jackson's two point layup
11:02		Rams offensive rebound
10:57	+2	Patrick Cartier makes two point layup (Isaiah Stevens assists)	18-15
10:42		Adam Seiko misses three point jump shot
10:40		Aguek Arop offensive rebound
10:19	+2	Adam Seiko makes two point running jump shot	18-17
9:49		Adam Seiko blocks Patrick Cartier's two point layup
9:47		Darrion Trammell defensive rebound
9:40		Nathan Mensah turnover (traveling)
9:26		Nathan Mensah personal foul (Patrick Cartier draws the foul)
9:21		Isaiah Stevens misses two point jump shot
9:19		Jaedon LeDee defensive rebound
9:09		Jaedon LeDee turnover (bad pass) (Baylor Hebb steals)
8:57		Jaedon LeDee blocks Baylor Hebb's two point layup
8:55		Patrick Cartier offensive rebound
8:51	+2	Patrick Cartier makes two point putback layup	20-17
8:38		Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot
8:36		Isaiah Stevens defensive rebound
8:12		Joe Palmer misses three point jump shot
8:09		Aztecs defensive rebound
7:56		Jaedon LeDee misses two point jump shot
7:54		Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound
7:54		Jaedon LeDee turnover (lost ball)
7:54		TV timeout
7:36		John Tonje misses two point alley-oop layup
7:34		Darrion Trammell defensive rebound
7:29		Darrion Trammell misses three point jump shot
7:27		Darrion Trammell offensive rebound
7:23	+3	Matt Bradley makes three point jump shot (Darrion Trammell assists)	20-20
7:07		Jalen Lake misses two point jump shot
7:05		Matt Bradley defensive rebound
6:54		Keshad Johnson turnover (bad pass)
6:39		Jalen Lake misses two point layup
6:37		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
6:19		Jaedon LeDee turnover (bad pass)
5:50	+2	James Moors makes two point layup (Isaiah Stevens assists)	22-20
5:38		James Moors personal foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul)
5:33		Keshad Johnson misses three point jump shot
5:31		James Moors defensive rebound
5:15		Isaiah Rivera misses two point layup
5:13		Lamont Butler defensive rebound
4:58		Aguek Arop turnover (lost ball) (John Tonje steals)
4:32		Isaiah Stevens misses two point jump shot
4:30		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
4:12		James Moors shooting foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul)
4:12		Lamont Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:12	+1	Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-21
3:51		Patrick Cartier turnover (lost ball) (Aguek Arop steals)
3:41		Adam Seiko turnover (bad pass) (Patrick Cartier steals)
3:38		Aguek Arop shooting foul (Isaiah Rivera draws the foul)
3:38		TV timeout
3:38	+1	Isaiah Rivera makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-21
3:38		Isaiah Rivera misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:38		Jaedon LeDee defensive rebound
3:27	+2	Lamont Butler makes two point layup	23-23
3:27		Baylor Hebb shooting foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul)
3:27	+1	Lamont Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 1	23-24
3:04		Patrick Cartier turnover (lost ball) (Darrion Trammell steals)
2:59		Baylor Hebb shooting foul (Darrion Trammell draws the foul)
2:59		Darrion Trammell misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:59		Patrick Cartier defensive rebound
2:31		Isaiah Stevens misses three point jump shot
2:29		Adam Seiko defensive rebound
2:08	+2	Lamont Butler makes two point layup	23-26
1:47		Isaiah Rivera misses three point jump shot
1:45		Micah Parrish defensive rebound
1:32		Darrion Trammell misses two point jump shot
1:30		Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound
1:30		Patrick Cartier shooting foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul)
1:30		Jaedon LeDee misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:30	+1	Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-27
1:24		John Tonje turnover (lost ball)
1:12		Matt Bradley misses two point jump shot
1:10		Patrick Cartier defensive rebound
1:05	+2	John Tonje makes two point dunk (Isaiah Stevens assists)	25-27
0:42		Jalen Lake blocks Darrion Trammell's three point jump shot
0:41		Aztecs offensive rebound
0:41		Aztecs 30 second timeout
0:32		Jaedon LeDee misses two point jump shot
0:30		John Tonje defensive rebound
0:04		Micah Parrish blocks Isaiah Stevens's two point jump shot
0:03		Rams offensive rebound
0:03		Rams turnover (shot clock violation)
0:00		Darrion Trammell misses three point jump shot
0:00		Rams defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
COST
Rams
36
SDSU
Aztecs
37

Time		Play	Score
19:33	+2	Keshad Johnson makes two point jump shot (Matt Bradley assists)	25-29
19:12	+2	Jalen Lake makes two point layup (Isaiah Stevens assists)	27-29
18:59		Isaiah Stevens personal foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul)
18:51		Isaiah Rivera blocks Matt Bradley's two point layup
18:49		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
18:45		Isaiah Stevens misses three point jump shot
18:43		Darrion Trammell defensive rebound
18:17		Keshad Johnson misses two point turnaround jump shot
18:15		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
17:58		Isaiah Stevens misses three point jump shot
17:56		Darrion Trammell defensive rebound
17:43		Lamont Butler misses two point layup
17:42		Nathan Mensah offensive rebound
17:35	+2	Matt Bradley makes two point jump shot	27-31
17:18	+2	Jalen Lake makes two point pullup jump shot	29-31
17:01		Darrion Trammell misses two point stepback jump shot
16:59		Lamont Butler offensive rebound
16:56		Lamont Butler turnover (back court violation)
16:38		Jalen Lake misses three point jump shot
16:36		Patrick Cartier offensive rebound
16:35		Matt Bradley shooting foul (Patrick Cartier draws the foul)
16:35	+1	Patrick Cartier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-31
16:35	+1	Patrick Cartier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-31
16:17		Matt Bradley misses two point jump shot
16:15		Rams defensive rebound
15:59		Patrick Cartier turnover (bad pass) (Nathan Mensah steals)
15:52		Adam Seiko misses three point jump shot
15:50		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
15:31	+2	Patrick Cartier makes two point hook shot	33-31
15:15		Isaiah Rivera personal foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul)
15:15		TV timeout
15:06	+2	Jaedon LeDee makes two point hook shot (Lamont Butler assists)	33-33
14:43	+2	Isaiah Stevens makes two point jump shot	35-33
14:24	+3	Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot (Jaedon LeDee assists)	35-36
14:06		Lamont Butler personal foul (Isaiah Stevens draws the foul)
13:47		John Tonje misses three point jump shot
13:45		James Moors offensive rebound
13:42		Taviontae Jackson turnover (bad pass)
13:36		Micah Parrish misses two point jump shot
13:34		Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound
13:30		Jaedon LeDee turnover (lost ball) (Taviontae Jackson steals)
13:22		Joe Palmer misses three point jump shot
13:20		Aguek Arop defensive rebound
13:05		Jaedon LeDee turnover (lost ball) (James Moors steals)
13:01		Jaedon LeDee personal foul (Isaiah Stevens draws the foul)
12:48		Micah Parrish blocks Taviontae Jackson's two point layup
12:46		Micah Parrish defensive rebound
12:40		Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot
12:38		Rams defensive rebound
12:29	+2	John Tonje makes two point jump shot (Joe Palmer assists)	37-36
12:11		Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot
12:09		Joe Palmer defensive rebound
11:58		Micah Parrish personal foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
11:58		TV timeout
11:52		Jalen Lake misses two point layup
11:50		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
11:34		Aguek Arop misses two point layup
11:32		Patrick Cartier defensive rebound
11:17		Baylor Hebb turnover (bad pass) (Keshad Johnson steals)
11:05		Keshad Johnson misses two point jump shot
11:03		Jalen Lake defensive rebound
10:48		Isaiah Stevens misses two point jump shot
10:46		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
10:38	+2	Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Adam Seiko assists)	37-38
10:20		Baylor Hebb turnover (bad pass) (Micah Parrish steals)
10:19		Baylor Hebb shooting foul (Micah Parrish draws the foul)
10:19	+1	Micah Parrish makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-39
10:19		Micah Parrish misses regular free throw 2 of 2
10:19		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
10:08	+2	Patrick Cartier makes two point layup (Isaiah Stevens assists)	39-39
9:49		Joe Palmer shooting foul (Micah Parrish draws the foul)
9:49	+1	Micah Parrish makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-40
9:49	+1	Micah Parrish makes regular free throw 2 of 2	39-41
9:20		Isaiah Rivera misses two point jump shot
9:18		Keshad Johnson defensive rebound
9:00	+2	Matt Bradley makes two point layup	39-43
8:59		Rams 30 second timeout
8:59		TV timeout
8:36	+2	Isaiah Stevens makes two point reverse layup	41-43
8:06		Matt Bradley misses two point layup
8:04		Nathan Mensah offensive rebound
8:03	+2	Nathan Mensah makes two point tip layup	41-45
7:37		Adam Seiko personal foul (Isaiah Stevens draws the foul)
7:37		TV timeout
7:26		Nathan Mensah shooting foul (Isaiah Stevens draws the foul)
7:26	+1	Isaiah Stevens makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-45
7:26	+1	Isaiah Stevens makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-45
7:15		Keshad Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Rivera steals)
7:09		Keshad Johnson shooting foul (Isaiah Stevens draws the foul)
7:09	+1	Isaiah Stevens makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-45
7:09	+1	Isaiah Stevens makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-45
6:42		Nathan Mensah turnover (lost ball) (James Moors steals)
6:36	+3	Isaiah Stevens makes three point jump shot	48-45
6:22	+3	Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot (Keshad Johnson assists)	48-48
5:56		Keshad Johnson personal foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
5:56	+1	John Tonje makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-48
5:56	+1	John Tonje makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-48
5:43		Isaiah Rivera shooting foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul)
5:43	+1	Matt Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-49
5:43	+1	Matt Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-50
5:34		Isaiah Stevens misses two point layup
5:32		James Moors offensive rebound
5:32		Jaedon LeDee personal foul (James Moors draws the foul)
5:32		Taviontae Jackson turnover (lane violation)
5:16		Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot
5:14		James Moors defensive rebound
5:07		Jaedon LeDee blocks Isaiah Stevens's two point layup
5:05		Lamont Butler defensive rebound
5:00		James Moors blocks Lamont Butler's two point layup
4:58		Lamont Butler offensive rebound
4:55	+2	Lamont Butler makes two point layup	50-52
4:45		Jaedon LeDee blocks Isaiah Stevens's two point layup
4:43		Isaiah Stevens offensive rebound
4:43	+3	Jalen Lake makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Stevens assists)	53-52
4:13	+2	Matt Bradley makes two point stepback jump shot	53-54
3:48		Isaiah Stevens misses three point jump shot
3:46		Jaedon LeDee defensive rebound
3:37		Aztecs 30 second timeout
3:37		TV timeout
3:22	+3	Adam Seiko makes three point jump shot (Aguek Arop assists)	53-57
3:04		Aguek Arop blocks John Tonje's three point jump shot
3:02		Micah Parrish defensive rebound
2:38		Patrick Cartier shooting foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul)
2:38	+1	Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-58
2:38		Jaedon LeDee misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:38		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
2:20	+3	Jalen Lake makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Stevens assists)	56-58
2:02		Isaiah Stevens blocks Lamont Butler's two point layup
2:00		Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound
1:56		Isaiah Rivera blocks Micah Parrish's three point jump shot
1:54		Isaiah Stevens defensive rebound
1:44	+3	Isaiah Stevens makes three point jump shot	59-58
1:20		Isaiah Rivera shooting foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul)
1:20	+1	Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-59
1:20	+1	Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-60
0:50		Rams 30 second timeout
0:49		Rams turnover (shot clock violation)
0:24		Isaiah Rivera blocks Lamont Butler's two point layup
0:22		Isaiah Rivera defensive rebound
0:18		Isaiah Stevens misses two point layup
0:16		Nathan Mensah defensive rebound
0:16		Isaiah Stevens personal foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul)
0:16	+1	Matt Bradley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-61
0:16	+1	Matt Bradley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-62
0:16		Aztecs 60 second timeout
0:16		Rams 60 second timeout
0:11	+2	Isaiah Stevens makes two point layup	61-62
0:10		Patrick Cartier personal foul (Nathan Mensah draws the foul)
0:10	+1	Nathan Mensah makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-63
0:10		Nathan Mensah misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:10		Patrick Cartier defensive rebound
0:04		Isaiah Stevens misses two point jump shot
0:02		Patrick Cartier offensive rebound
0:02		Nathan Mensah blocks Patrick Cartier's two point layup
0:01		Nathan Mensah defensive rebound
0:01		Patrick Cartier personal foul (Nathan Mensah draws the foul)
0:01		Nathan Mensah misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:01	+1	Nathan Mensah makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-64
0:00		End of period

+ 1

Nathan Mensah makes regular free throw 2 of 2