Game Notes
Tip-Off
Chicago State University men's basketball concludes its four-game road swing in the state of California Tuesday night as it takes on 22nd-ranked and defending Mountain West Conference co-champion San Diego State at SDSU's Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl with the opening tip set for 9 p.m., central time.
Scouting CSU
Chicago State brings a season record of 0-15 in San Diego and is playing its second consecutive game against the Mountain West Conference. The Green and White fell in its last contest to host Air Force last Friday by a score of 68-54 behind a double-double from graduate student forward Lee Fisher (Dolton, IL/Northern Illinois) of a career-best 18 rebounds and 16 points. CSU is led by junior forward Jeremy Robinson (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower), who has produced team high averages of 13.5 points and 1.3 blocked shots per game in addition to shooting 46 percent from the field. Fisher ranks first on the Cougars in rebounds (8.1 rpg), assists (2.6 apg), steals (1.5 spg) and double-doubles (four) while recording a scoring average of 12.6 points per contest. Junior guard Matt Samuels (Washington, DC/South Suburban College) is the third CSU player averaging in double figures at 10.8 points a game while ranking second on the team in steals with one steal per game.
Scouting San Diego State
San Diego State, ranked 22nd in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today, heads into Tuesday's showdown with CSU sporting a 13-2 season record and has won 10 of its last 11 games since Nov. 17, 2011. The Aztecs opened the New Year with an 83-52 home win over NAIA member San Diego Christian on Jan. 5 with five players scoring in double figures, led by junior forward DeShawn Stephens' game high totals of 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Chase Tapley leads SDSU in several categories, including scoring (16.9 ppg), steals (2.2 spg), blocked shots (0.7 bpg) and three-point field goal percentage (.513). Sophomore guard Jamaal Franklin is second on the team with 15.1 points per game, while sophomore guard Xavier Thames is averaging 12 points and a team-leading 5.4 assists a game. Junior guard James Rahon is the fourth and final Aztec player averaging double figures at 10.2 points per contest, and senior forward Garrett Green is the team's leading rebounder with 6.6 boards per game.
Series History
Chicago State and San Diego State are battling for the first time on the hardwood and this is CSU's third opponent from the Mountain West Conference since December 2008. The Cougars have taken on TCU and Air Force from the MWC.
Top Thieves in Great West
Chicago State currently leads the Great West Conference in steals with an average of 7.4 steals per game heading into Tuesday's contest at San Diego State. The Cougars have twice posted a season-best 13 thefts in home contests against Campbell and Oregon State.
Something in Common
Chicago State and San Diego State have a pair of common opponents this season in Air Force and Creighton. The Cougars fell to both teams on the road, while the Aztecs lost to Bluejays in the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge in November and will battle the Falcons in MWC play later this season.
Up Next
CSU returns to the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center on Sunday, Jan. 15 with a non-conference contest against St. Francis (Ill.), a local NAIA school out of Joliet, Ill., with the opening tip set for 2:05 p.m.
