San Diego State tops Charleston 63-57 in NCAA tourney
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Matt Bradley's last NCAA Tournament game essentially ended with him bobbling the ball out of bounds, a costly turnover against Creigton in an overtime loss last year.
There was zero chance he was going to do it again.
Bradley scored 17 points and made play after play down the stretch, including hitting two free throws in the final minute, and No. 5 seed San Diego State held on to beat 12th-seeded College of Charleston 63-57 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
The victory was a measure of redemption for Bradley, whose mistake last year proved costly in the three-point loss.
“I'm just thinking positive things,” said Bradley, who insisted he had no flashbacks to the gaffe. “I'm looking at the bench and everybody trusts me now. Nobody side-eying. I think I have full trust in my teammates and in my coaches on making that free throw, so it felt really good.”
The senior provided pivotal plays in this one, helping the Aztecs (28-6) win their first game in the Big Dance since 2015. They ended a four-game losing streak in the tournament and snapped an 11-game skid for the Mountain West Conference.
“Everybody makes us aware of (the losing streak),” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. “The thing that you can’t lose sight of is every team and every season is different. You know, there is no history.
“This team is creating its own history right now. ... We're not worried about past failures or successes. We’re only focused on the moment, and that’s how you win games.”
The Cougars (31-4) lost for the first time in six weeks and have not won an NCAA tournament game since 1997.
San Diego State advanced to face 13th-seeded Furman in the South Region at the Amway Center on Saturday. The Paladins used a late steal and 3-pointer to stun No. 4 seed Virginia four years to the day since the Cavaliers became the first and only No. 1 seed to lose in the opening round.
Charleston looked to provide another upset in Orlando, but coach Pat Kelsey’s scrappy team simply couldn’t do enough down the stretch.
San Diego State did.
Bradley scored on a driving layup coming out of a timeout with 2:37 to play, breaking a tie and ending a nearly 3-minute scoring drought for the Aztecs. Micah Parrish followed with a huge 3-pointer, giving them a little breathing room in the final minutes.
Charleston looked like it might be able to rally, but Jaylon Scott was called for a foul as Bradley shot a 3. He hit two of three from the charity stripe to essentially seal it.
Ante Brzovic led Charleston with 12 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Larson added 11 points, and seventh-year senior Dalton Bolon finished his college career with 10 points.
“These seniors, although they played their last game in a Charleston uniform, they're going to leave a legacy that's going to last decades,” Kelsey said.
Bradley, one of four senior starters for San Diego State, chipped in seven rebounds and four assists.
“We understand how important it is to close out games because in March Madness anybody can win,” Bradley said. “Ranking doesn't matter. Nothing matters. The hardest team is going to win, and that's what we did.”
BIG PICTURE
Charleston: The Cougars had three graduate-senior starters who carried them to the tournament, and Kelsey will probably turn to the transfer portal to find replacements. The one glaring weakness against San Diego State was a post presence as the team got outscored by 12 points in the paint.
San Diego State: The Aztecs salvaged what looked to be another rough start for the Mountain West. Nevada lost in a play-in game Wednesday night to extend the league’s losing skid to double digits, and Utah State made it 11 straight with a loss to Missouri early Thursday. But the conference champs stepped up and got the league back in the win column.
UP NEXT
Charleston gets to work rebuilding a senior-laden roster. The Cougars have five seniors to replace before the 2023-24 season.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Ante Brzovic vs. Nathan Mensah (Lamont Butler gains possession) | |||
19:38 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Lamont Butler assists) | 0-2 | |
19:28 | +2 | Dalton Bolon makes two point layup (Ante Brzovic assists) | 2-2 | |
19:11 | Lamont Butler turnover (bad pass) (Ante Brzovic steals) | |||
18:59 | Ante Brzovic misses three point jump shot | |||
18:57 | Darrion Trammell defensive rebound | |||
18:53 | Darrion Trammell turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Larson steals) | |||
18:49 | +3 | Reyne Smith makes three point jump shot (Jaylon Scott assists) | 5-2 | |
18:49 | Darrion Trammell shooting foul (Reyne Smith draws the foul) | |||
18:49 | +1 | Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 6-2 | |
18:38 | Matt Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
18:36 | Matt Bradley offensive rebound | |||
18:27 | +2 | Keshad Johnson makes two point dunk (Matt Bradley assists) | 6-4 | |
18:02 | +2 | Ante Brzovic makes two point layup (Jaylon Scott assists) | 8-4 | |
17:46 | Darrion Trammell misses three point jump shot | |||
17:44 | Ante Brzovic defensive rebound | |||
17:26 | Dalton Bolon misses two point jump shot | |||
17:24 | Matt Bradley defensive rebound | |||
17:17 | Matt Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
17:15 | Dalton Bolon defensive rebound | |||
17:02 | Ryan Larson misses three point jump shot | |||
17:00 | Keshad Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:45 | +2 | Nathan Mensah makes two point layup (Darrion Trammell assists) | 8-6 | |
16:25 | Ante Brzovic misses three point jump shot | |||
16:23 | Ryan Larson offensive rebound | |||
16:17 | Jaylon Scott misses three point jump shot | |||
16:15 | Darrion Trammell defensive rebound | |||
16:00 | Lamont Butler offensive foul (Reyne Smith draws the foul) | |||
16:00 | Lamont Butler turnover (offensive foul) | |||
16:00 | TV timeout | |||
15:33 | Reyne Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
15:31 | Jaedon LeDee defensive rebound | |||
15:09 | Aguek Arop misses two point dunk | |||
15:07 | Ryan Larson defensive rebound | |||
15:01 | Ben Burnham offensive foul (Aguek Arop draws the foul) | |||
15:01 | Ben Burnham turnover (offensive foul) | |||
14:33 | Micah Parrish turnover (bad pass) (Ben Burnham steals) | |||
14:27 | Ben Burnham turnover (back court violation) | |||
14:21 | Darrion Trammell turnover (out of bounds) | |||
14:03 | Jump ball. Pat Robinson III vs. Aguek Arop (Pat Robinson III gains possession) | |||
13:57 | +2 | Ante Brzovic makes two point jump shot | 10-6 | |
13:44 | Official timeout | |||
13:31 | Jaedon LeDee turnover (traveling) | |||
13:08 | Pat Robinson III misses three point jump shot | |||
13:06 | Aztecs defensive rebound | |||
12:56 | Aguek Arop offensive foul (Ben Burnham draws the foul) | |||
12:56 | Aguek Arop turnover (offensive foul) | |||
12:28 | Dalton Bolon misses three point jump shot | |||
12:26 | Jaedon LeDee defensive rebound | |||
12:20 | Micah Parrish misses three point jump shot | |||
12:18 | Aztecs offensive rebound | |||
11:59 | Micah Parrish misses two point jump shot | |||
11:57 | Jaylon Scott defensive rebound | |||
11:41 | +3 | Dalton Bolon makes three point jump shot | 13-6 | |
11:26 | +3 | Matt Bradley makes three point jump shot (Lamont Butler assists) | 13-9 | |
11:08 | Matt Bradley blocks Dalton Bolon's two point layup | |||
11:06 | Aguek Arop defensive rebound | |||
11:02 | Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot | |||
11:00 | Dalton Bolon defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Reyne Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
10:44 | Matt Bradley defensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Matt Bradley misses three point jump shot | |||
10:31 | Aztecs offensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Ante Brzovic personal foul | |||
10:31 | TV timeout | |||
10:15 | Ryan Larson shooting foul (Darrion Trammell draws the foul) | |||
10:15 | +1 | Darrion Trammell makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 13-10 | |
10:15 | Darrion Trammell misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
10:15 | +1 | Darrion Trammell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 13-11 | |
9:55 | +2 | Ryan Larson makes two point layup | 15-11 | |
9:48 | Reyne Smith personal foul (Matt Bradley draws the foul) | |||
9:44 | +2 | Matt Bradley makes two point jump shot | 15-13 | |
9:24 | Dalton Bolon misses three point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Matt Bradley defensive rebound | |||
9:08 | Babacar Faye shooting foul (Nathan Mensah draws the foul) | |||
9:08 | Nathan Mensah misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:08 | Nathan Mensah misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:08 | Raekwon Horton defensive rebound | |||
8:59 | Pat Robinson III misses two point layup | |||
8:57 | Nathan Mensah defensive rebound | |||
8:49 | Babacar Faye blocks Keshad Johnson's two point layup | |||
8:47 | Babacar Faye defensive rebound | |||
8:39 | Ryan Larson misses two point layup | |||
8:37 | Nathan Mensah defensive rebound | |||
8:35 | Nathan Mensah turnover (bad pass) (Raekwon Horton steals) | |||
8:18 | +3 | Ryan Larson makes three point jump shot (Pat Robinson III assists) | 18-13 | |
7:56 | Matt Bradley misses two point jump shot | |||
7:54 | Cougars defensive rebound | |||
7:51 | TV timeout | |||
7:35 | Darrion Trammell shooting foul (Jaylon Scott draws the foul) | |||
7:35 | +1 | Jaylon Scott makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-13 | |
7:35 | +1 | Jaylon Scott makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-13 | |
7:20 | Ryan Larson personal foul (Lamont Butler draws the foul) | |||
7:10 | +2 | Aguek Arop makes two point layup | 20-15 | |
7:00 | +2 | Jaylon Scott makes two point layup | 22-15 | |
6:51 | +2 | Micah Parrish makes two point layup (Lamont Butler assists) | 22-17 | |
6:31 | Pat Robinson III misses two point layup | |||
6:29 | Micah Parrish defensive rebound | |||
6:15 | Keshad Johnson misses two point hook shot | |||
6:13 | Babacar Faye defensive rebound | |||
6:02 | +2 | Babacar Faye makes two point layup (Jaylon Scott assists) | 24-17 | |
5:39 | +3 | Lamont Butler makes three point jump shot | 24-20 | |
5:26 | Babacar Faye offensive foul | |||
5:26 | Babacar Faye turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:06 | +2 | Aguek Arop makes two point layup (Adam Seiko assists) | 24-22 | |
4:59 | Cougars 30 second timeout | |||
4:59 | TV timeout | |||
4:48 | Ante Brzovic misses two point layup | |||
4:46 | Micah Parrish defensive rebound | |||
4:21 | Lamont Butler misses three point jump shot | |||
4:19 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
4:13 | +2 | Jaedon LeDee makes two point layup | 24-24 | |
3:49 | Lamont Butler personal foul (Dalton Bolon draws the foul) | |||
3:49 | TV timeout | |||
3:41 | Dalton Bolon turnover (lost ball) (Aguek Arop steals) | |||
3:27 | Jaedon LeDee misses two point layup | |||
3:25 | Jaedon LeDee offensive rebound | |||
3:25 | Raekwon Horton personal foul (Jaedon LeDee draws the foul) | |||
3:25 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-25 | |
3:25 | +1 | Jaedon LeDee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-26 | |
3:11 | Ante Brzovic turnover (lost ball) (Jaedon LeDee steals) | |||
3:01 | Ante Brzovic blocks Aguek Arop's two point layup | |||
2:59 | Aguek Arop offensive rebound | |||
2:48 | +2 | Matt Bradley makes two point layup | 24-28 | |
2:32 | Micah Parrish shooting foul (Reyne Smith draws the foul) | |||
2:32 | +1 | Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 25-28 | |
2:32 | +1 | Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 26-28 | |
2:32 | +1 | Reyne Smith makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 27-28 | |
2:20 | Darrion Trammell turnover (bad pass) (Pat Robinson III steals) | |||
2:12 | Jaedon LeDee blocks Pat Robinson III's two point layup | |||
2:10 | Darrion Trammell defensive rebound | |||
2:09 | Matt Bradley misses two point layup | |||
2:07 | Ante Brzovic defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | +2 | Ante Brzovic makes two point layup (Ryan Larson assists) | 29-28 | |
1:44 | Aguek Arop offensive foul | |||
1:44 | Aguek Arop turnover (offensive foul) | |||
1:26 | Ryan Larson misses two point jump shot | |||
1:24 | Nathan Mensah defensive rebound | |||
1:10 | +2 | Matt Bradley makes two point layup | 29-30 | |
0:58 | Pat Robinson III turnover (bad pass) (Micah Parrish steals) | |||
0:45 | +2 | Jaedon LeDee makes two point layup (Matt Bradley assists) | 29-32 | |
0:26 | Ryan Larson turnover (lost ball) | |||
0:26 | Aztecs 30 second timeout | |||
0:01 | Lamont Butler turnover (lost ball) (Reyne Smith steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |