San Diego State knocked off Temple in double overtime 71-64 in Tucson on Saturday, sending the second-seeded Aztecs to Anaheim for the first Sweet 16 in school history. The Arizona Daily Wildcat takes a look at how SDSU was able to survive Temple’s upset bid.
Key Player
San Diego State guard Chase Tapley. The sophomore from Sacramento, Calif., was the Aztec’s only consistent threat on offense against Temple, nailing 4-of-5 shots from behind the arc. Tapley kept SDSU in the game, and even ahead for most of it, while Kahwi Leonard and Billy White were struggling on offense.
Key Moment
With 1:37 remaining in the second overtime, Temple’s Khalif Wyatt had a point-blank look at the basket with the Owls trailing by four. Wyatt was fouled, his shot rimmed out, and then Wyatt hit only one of two free throws. That gave SDSU a three-point lead, after Wyatt missed a good look that could have cut the Aztec lead to one.
Key Stat
When SDSU’s Kawhi Leonard went to the free throw line with 2:59 remaining, it was the Aztecs’ first trip to the charity stripe since the 17:50 mark of the first half. SDSU ended the game connecting on all nine of its free throw attempts, but that gap between attempts highlighted the reason for San Diego State’s struggles on offense — the Aztecs couldn’t generate any inside scoring.