San Diego State Aztecs Look Like a Tournament Team in NIT Opener

The crowd was loud. The team was focused. The opponent was overwhelmed.

This is the exact way any Aztecs fan would have envisioned their team's opening-round game in the postseason would go...with one catch—it would have been in the NCAA Tournament, not the NIT.

The Aztecs came out focused and ready to play Tuesday night, just two days after finding out their postseason destiny was to play in the less desirable of the two big tournaments.

Lorrenzo Wade looked like a future NBA star, as he hit on several mid-range jumpers, and finished off one of the best alley-oops you'll see at the college level. He finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting. He also added 10 rebounds and defended Weber State's best player, PG Kellen McCoy, and held him to 14 points.

Kyle Spain and Billy White also finished in double figures in scoring on the night for the Aztecs.

The Aztecs led 39-17 at the half, and it was only because the reserves played the final five minutes or so that the final score was 65-49.

Head Coach Steve Fisher's job from Sunday evening to Tuesday was very difficult. He had to persuade his players that they still had something to play for, after likely being the first team left out of the NCAA Tournament.

Apparently, he did a good job.

Now, the Aztecs face an unusual situation. They will play their next home game at rival University of San Diego Friday night, because Cox Arena will be hosting the Women's NCAA Tournament first-round games on Saturday. The question is whether the opponent will be Kansas State or Illinois State.

Either way, the objective is the same: Just keep winning. That should show the nation the Aztecs are for real.