San Diego State will go to the Final Four for the first time in the history of its men’s basketball program.
The Aztecs defeated Creighton in the NCAA Men’s Basketball South Regional Final, 57-56.
San Diego State guard Darrion Trammell was fouled by Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard when he fired for a jumper with 1.2 seconds remaining in the game. Replay showed that Nembhard had his hand on Trammell’s hip when he shot himself.
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San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) dunks the ball against Creighton in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA South Regional Tournament, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/ John Bazemore)
He missed the first free throw and then hit the second. The No. 5 seeded Aztecs would advance to the Final Four for the first time.
Nathan Mensah put San Diego State ahead by two points, 56-54, with 1:37 left in the second half. After a missed shot by Nembhard and then a missed 3-point attempt by Trammell, Bluejays guard Trey Alexander missed a jumper to tie the game with approximately 37 seconds remaining in the game. The ball rattled around the edge before falling out of the glass.
The ball would go out of bounds and San Diego State’s Adam Seiko tried to find a teammate but fumbled. Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman would steal an in-bounds pass and hit an easy layup to tie the game 56-56 with 32 seconds remaining in the second half.
Creighton guard Francisco Farabello (5) pushes against San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah (31) in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA South Regional Tournament, Sunday, May 26. March 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) moves the ball against San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA South Regional Tournament, on Sunday March 26, 2023, in Louisville, USA. Kentucky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
UCONN DOMINATES AGAIN, DEFEATING GONZAGA TO EARN A TRIP TO THE FINAL FOUR
Trammel would receive the ball in the dying seconds and foul in the dying seconds.
March 26, 2023; Louisville, KY, USA; Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) and San Diego State Aztecs guard Darrion Trammell (12) battle for the ball during the second half of the NCAA Tournament South Regional-Creighton vs San Diego State at KFC YUM! Center. (Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports)
Creighton led 33-28 at halftime. Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 10 points in the first 20 minutes of the game on 5-for-8 from the floor. The center-back scored 17 points and six rebounds.
San Diego State’s Lamont Butler led the Aztecs with 18 points and two rebounds. Trammell finished with 12 points and five rebounds. They were the only two San Diego State players in double figures.
The Aztecs will play Florida Atlantic in the Final Four on Saturday.
Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard (2) meets San Diego State forward Aguek Arop (33) in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA South Regional Tournament on Sunday March 26, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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The furthest San Diego State has been in the tournament before this year’s group was the Sweet 16. The team had made the Sweet 16 in 2014 and 2011 and now has a chance to play for a national championship.