For the Aztecs, There Was Nothing Corny About This Victory

HONOLULU â€”  Jim Brandenburg, San Diego State basketball coach, was looking for just the right souvenir from his trip to Hawaii, none of those cheap tourist trinkets for an occasion like this.

So, the discriminating traveler returned with . . . a used popcorn tub?

“I’m taking this back to put in my office,” Brandenburg said clutching the bucket like a prized trophy after the Aztecs ended a two-season, 18-game road losing streak and avoided the Western Athletic Conference cellar with a 59-58 victory over the University of Hawaii late Monday night.

Not since a 1986 triumph at the Air Force Academy almost two years to the day--and not in the careers of any of the current Aztecs--had SDSU won on the road.

The popcorn bucket represented the Aztecs’ will to end that streak.

When the team showed up at the Blaisdell Center Arena Sunday night for a practice, there were no basketballs. While a student manager went around the neighborhood trying to collect a few, the team improvised.

Somebody found the popcorn bucket under the seats, rolled it into a ball, which was used for almost an hour until the manager returned.

“It’s kind of crazy how it all worked out, but I guess it served its purpose, we won,” Brandenburg said.

The Aztecs needed Bryan Williams’ free throw with two seconds left to win their first game in Hawaii since 1985 and only their third in 11 trips.

They are 2-6 in the WAC and 8-11 overall. Hawaii is 1-7 and 2-17.

“Maybe it was poetic justice for the one we lost on the last shot (against Wyoming) last week,” Brandenburg said. “It was a big win for us because we finally have a road breakthrough. At this stage, that’s important to this program.”

Said Mitch McMullen, Aztec center: “It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win and that’s enough. This gives us a lot of hope.”

The Aztecs can use the boost as they continue a tough trip that takes them, in succession, to Miami, New Mexico and El Paso in the next 10 days.

Against Hawaii, the lead changed 11 times when Ty Walker’s only shot of the game--a three-pointer at the buzzer--gave the Aztecs a 30-29 halftime lead.

San Diego State led by seven points through much of the second half until fouls helped Hawaii rally. In the span of five minutes, forward Caldin Rogers fouled out and three others--McMullen and two forwards--picked up their fourth fouls each.

“That’s where our lead went; our whole inside group got in tremendous foul trouble all at once,” Brandenburg said.

Hawaii’s Reggie Cross, who averages 15 points a game but hadn’t scored, made four free throws and a field goal to help the Rainbows get even at 52-52 with 4:44 left. Hawaii took its last lead, 58-57, with 1:07 left on Bill Holcomb’s jumper.

Then the Aztecs worked the clock down before Williams missed badly on an off-balance hook shot. McMullen tried to follow with a stuff, hanging on the rim on the follow through, but was fouled by Holcomb with 23 seconds left.

“When I heard the whistle, I thought, ‘Oh, no, it’s on me,’ ” McMullen said. “I was all ready to head down to the other end.”

After back-to-back Hawaii timeouts, McMullen made the first free throw to tie the score at 58-58.

“I knew they were just trying to freeze me, but I got angry inside and forced myself to make it,” McMullen said. “I’d missed one like that that would have sent us into overtime against Wyoming and I was going to redeem myself this time.”

His second one was high off the backboard but Sam Johnson cut across the lane for it and the Aztecs called timeout to call a play.

With two seconds left, Williams drove the right side and was fouled by Craig Murray.

“I had two shots and I knew I was going to hit at least one of them,” said Williams, a 79% free throw shooter.

He made the first one, which was enough.