Aztecs claim ugly win, but Hawks’ effort is thing of beauty

By Elias Totah
EastCountySports.com

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Christian Hawks came into Viejas Arena looking to steal a game from the San Diego State Aztecs. The Hawks wanted to prove that they can contend at a high level on a big stage, and they did just that in a 71-61 exhibition loss at Viejas Arena Wednesday night.

The 10 points is the closest SDC has come in defeating the Aztecs in the six times against SDSU.

The Hawks started the game, down 13-4 right out of the gate. Some clubs usually count themselves out and concede when things are not going their way early in a game. SDC did the exact opposite, competing on both ends of the floor, attacking the basket, and playing with heart.

SDSU thought they could outmatch their opponent on the defensive glass, having a size advantage usually plays a key role, but the Hawks managed to only lose the rebounding battle, 40-37. 

In the first half, SDC guard Dalante Dunklin contributed with 8 points on 4-of-9 from the field, 6 rebounds and 1 turnover in 16 minutes of action. Dunklin willed the Hawks offensively, creating havoc for SDSU in transition and showed how aggressive he truly is by attacking the basket. 

The Aztecs went up 36-20 at the half, a respectable outcome for SDC, competing in all phases of the game and matching SDSU’s intensity.

The Hawks turned the ball over 5 times in the first half, while the Aztecs turned it over 6 times.

SDC swingman Trevor English struggled to find his rhythm in the first half, putting up 6 shots with no rebounds or assists in the first half. He managed to string together 5 points, but what English had in store for the second half kept the crowd skeptical. 

SDC managed to be down as far as 13 points, 46-33, in the second half, until English became unconscious from three point range, piling on five three pointers in the second half. 

“The coaches said keep shooting and shots would start falling,” English said after the game.   

Shooters keep shooting and English never lost that confidence shooting the basketball.

English tallied up 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 6-of-10 from the three point line. An eruption in the second half from a player that struggled to find his shot in the first half said a lot about his confidence to keep firing. 

Dunklin ended the night with 15 points on 6-15 shooting, 11 rebounds and 3 assists. A double-double for Dunklin gave the Hawks a major boost on both ends of the floor and his contribution played a key part in SDC’s valiant effort. 

SDC cut the deficit to 10 and that is how it ended with the Aztecs holding on to move improve to 2-1 on the season.

Forward Malik Pope led SDSU with 14 points on 6-12 shooting and 5 rebounds. Guard Jeremy Hemsley for the Aztecs started in place of point guard Winston Sheppard tonight adding 14 points on 5-7 shooting, to go along with 3 rebounds and 2 assists. 

The Hawks shot nearly 47% from the field in the second half to outscore the Aztecs, 41-35.

SDC showed a lot of positives in the second half of play, proving that they can compete with a local powerhouse in SDSU.

“We discussed with our guys before the game that we have to use this to get better, we have to win these battles,” San Diego Christian head coach Edgar Mendez said after the game, as he talked about how comfortable his team felt against an up tempo Aztec team.

A confident Hawks team look to stay up beat against CSU-San Marcos on Saturday, November 21st @ 7:00 p.m. 

“If we can just bring this type of energy to every game, I think we will have success in our conference and hopefully get to Kansas City,” English said.

SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN vs SAN DIEGO STATE
11-18-15

at Viejas Arena

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VISITORS: SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 ENGLISH, Trevor..... f  7-14   6-10   1-1    1  3  4   1  21  1  1  0  2  33
12 LAMBERT, Michael.... f  1-7    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   2   2  3  2  0  1  28
23 RICHARDSON, Josh.... f  3-8    1-2    1-2    2  0  2   4   8  0  0  0  1  22
05 DUNKLIN, Dalante.... g  6-15   0-2    3-4    5  6 11   4  15  3  6  0  1  34
13 TRAVERS, Shayne..... g  1-3    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   1   2  2  0  0  1  25
00 ANGULO, Michael.....    0-3    0-2    0-0    1  0  1   3   0  0  0  0  0  10
02 NIELSEN, Daniel.....    1-3    0-1    0-0    1  1  2   0   2  0  0  0  0   5
04 EDEN, Mark..........    1-2    1-2    2-2    1  2  3   1   5  0  2  0  0  10
21 AUSTIN, Antonio.....    1-4    1-2    0-0    1  4  5   0   3  1  0  0  0  16
25 KLEKAS, Nathan......    1-4    0-2    1-3    0  3  3   3   3  0  1  0  1  17
   TM..................                         1  2  3             1
   Totals..............   22-63   9-24   8-12  14 23 37  19  61 10 13  0  7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  8-33 24.2%   2nd Half: 14-30 46.7%   Game: 34.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-8  12.5%   2nd Half:  8-16 50.0%   Game: 37.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-5  60.0%   2nd Half:  5-7  71.4%   Game: 66.7%   2,1


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HOME TEAM: SAN DIEGO STATE 2-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
00 Spencer, Skylar..... f  2-4    0-0    1-2    3  3  6   1   5  1  1  0  0  19
21 Pope, Malik......... f  6-12   2-5    0-0    0  5  5   1  14  0  1  1  0  25
04 Allen, Dakarai...... g  1-10   0-4    2-2    2  2  4   0   4  4  2  2  3  27
12 Kell, Trey.......... g  0-3    0-2    0-0    0  2  2   0   0  1  1  0  0  13
42 Hemsley, Jeremy..... g  5-7    1-1    3-4    0  3  3   2  14  2  0  1  1  28
03 Chol, Angelo........    3-6    0-0    0-1    1  5  6   3   6  1  1  2  2  25
11 Williams, D'Erryl...    3-3    0-0    3-3    0  1  1   2   9  0  0  0  1  17
14 Cheatham, Zylan.....    3-6    0-2    7-9    3  5  8   1  13  2  2  0  1  26
15 Perez, Ben..........    2-6    2-4    0-0    0  0  0   3   6  0  3  0  1  20
   TEAM................                         3  2  5
   Totals..............   25-57   5-18  16-21  12 28 40  13  71 11 11  6  9 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-32 43.8%   2nd Half: 11-25 44.0%   Game: 43.9%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-11 27.3%   2nd Half:  2-7  28.6%   Game: 27.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-8  62.5%   2nd Half: 11-13 84.6%   Game: 76.2%   1,1


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Officials: Michael Irving, Frank Harvey III, LaDonte King
Technical fouls: SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN-None. SAN DIEGO STATE-CHEATHAM, Zylan.
Attendance: 12414
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN...........   20   41  -   61
SAN DIEGO STATE...............   36   35  -   71