SDSU upset by Wyoming, lose second straight

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) -- San Diego State coach Steve Fisher sensed before the No. 15 Aztecs played Wyoming that something was missing.

"I didn't feel an excitement and an energy in the locker room that you have to have," Fisher said. "It didn't appear that we had an edge about us that was conveyed just by a look and a feel and a squirming in your seat."

By the end of the game, his pregame senses were confirmed as SDSU fell 58-45 to Wyoming on Saturday night.

SDSU (14-4, 2-2) lost its second game in a row, the first time this season the Aztecs have lost back-to-back games. The Aztecs fell to UNLV on Wednesday.

Jamaal Franklin led SDSU with 13 points -- 5 points below his season average.

The Aztecs, who entered the game averaging 72 points, struggled from the field Saturday night. They hit just 29 percent (17-of-59), making just 2-of-18 3-point attempts. The 45 total points was the lowest of the season, second only to the 49 SDSU scored in its first game of the season -- a loss to Syracuse on an outdoor court.

Fisher, who declined to make any of his players available to the media after the game, pointed to a need for better practices.

"Our practices have not been as engaging and tough as they have to be," he said. "I told them that before we left on this trip."

Leonard Washington had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Larry Nance Jr. added 11 points and 12 rebounds to lead Wyoming.

The Cowboys (15-2, 2-2 Mountain West) have defeated nine of the last 14 Top 25 teams to visit Arena-Auditorium. They are 5-1 at home against ranked teams under Shyatt.

Derrious Gilmore had 13 points, and Josh Adams 12 for Wyoming, which snapped a five-game losing streak to the Aztecs.

SDSU scored just 9 points in the first half on four field goals and a free throw. It was its lowest point total for a half this season.

However, Wyoming wasn't much better in the first half, keeping San Diego State in the game with its own shooting woes -- making just 8-of-25 shots -- for a 20-9 halftime lead.

"We just tried to hold them to some tough shots," Washington, who now has eight double-doubles on the season, said. "A couple more shots dropped for us than they did for San Diego State tonight."

Both Washington and Nance scored just 2 points each in the first half.

At halftime, Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt talked to his team about getting the ball inside to Washington and Nance more often. Washington responded with 12 second-half points, and Nance 9.

Both teams improved their shooting in the second half, but SDSU was never able to mount a serious challenge, getting no closer than 42-35 with 3:57 left in the game.

Wyoming ended the game shooting 43 percent from the floor (18-42) and made 4-of-16 3-pointers.

SDSU played without starting guard Xavier Thames, who sat out the game because of a recurring back injury.

Winston Shepard, a highly recruited 6-8 freshman from Houston, made his second start in replacing Thames and finished with 10 points.

Tags:   nba, San Diego State Aztecs, Wyoming Cowboys

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