The San Diego State Aztecs look to gain some momentum as they host the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on Wednesday night.
The Aztecs have won two straight games since dropping the opener to Syracuse and are looking forward to taking on a team that has lost 36-straight non-conference road games. The team had its first game against Syracuse postponed, but the Aztecs still lost 62-49 on the rescheduled day on the flight deck of the USS Midway.
San Diego State dominated in their second game against NAIA San Diego Christian, winning 91-57, and also beat a very physical Missouri State 60-44 for its first road win on Saturday.
"I told our team, 'This is going to be like a road game in the league, this is going to be a Mountain West Conference road game, and you know what those are like," said coach Steve Fisher said to the Associated Press. "And it was."
The Aztecs are ranked 25th in the nation and have high expectations this year after winning the Mountain West last season, their third straight conference title. Last season the team made it to the NCAA tournament but lost 79-65 to North Carolina State in the first round.
The team ranks 9th in the nation in rebounds per game and has been led by guard Jamaal Franklin, who has been the most impressive player for the Aztecs.
The senior is leading the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and is also averaging a team-best 2.3 blocks per game. Franklin Is shooting over 40 percent from the field, but accuracy has been a problem for the Aztecs.
The team ranks 318th in the nation in field goal percentage and has only one starter shooting over 40 percent. The Aztecs have also struggled from 3-point range, shooting only 15 percent.
Senior guard Chase Tapley is second on the team with 10.7 points per game, but has struggled since averaging 15 points last season. He scored 18 points while grabbing six rebounds in the win over San Diego Christian on Nov. 13, but is only shooting 32 percent this year.
The Golden Lions are coming off of their first win of the season against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday night in the Rainbow Classic after opening the year with two straight losses.
Lazabian Jackson led the way for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Tevin Hammond has seven assists to lead the team and also added eight points.
Although the team has yet to win the road, the Golden Eagles showed improvement on Monday while playing at home, shooting 44 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range.
The team is ranked 313th in field goal percentage and are only scoring 61 points per game. The Aztecs pose their biggest challenge of the season as the team starts stretch of eight-straight road games.
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