San Diego State misses twice on final trip to lose Mountain West title game to Boise State
basketball’s defensive chops. Everyone cringes about the team’s inability to find offense in the biggest late-game moments, beyond heavy-lifter Matt Bradley.
That’s the way the March basketball bounces, right? Wipe the slate clean. Chalk it up as a one-off, particularly for a team that had won 11 of 12 coming in.The NCAA Tournament-bound Aztecs win the tight ones with defense, period. They did not collect a single win when trailing in the final minute or so this season.Final possessions wins on defense: four, against Arizona State, Fresno State and Nevada twice.
The Aztecs finished the first 20 minutes with two fast-break points. They finished the game with four. They shot 28.6 percent from the field, at the halfway point. As the Broncos leaped and hugged and yelled at center court, that percentage only had risen to 35.1.When the Dance of All Dances arrives, the bracket rarely treats the offensive challenged kindly. The Aztecs stand No. 2 in the country in defensive efficiency, according to the respected metrics math at KenPom.com.
Mensah, the Mountain West defensive player of the year: “I feel like we’re known for our defensive capabilities. … I always put my money on defense.”
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