It’s been a great run, but San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball was defeated by the UConn Huskies, 76-59, in the NCAA Tournament’s March Madness championship game yesterday at the NRG Arena in Houston.
The Huskies took the lead early into the first half, and by halftime, the Aztecs trailed by 12 points. The local team made solid efforts to close the gap but were never able to catch the Huskies.
Despite the loss, the road to the championship game has been filled with firsts for the Aztecs — including victories in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games to advanced to the Final Four. This isn’t just historic for SDSU, but it also marks the first time a team in the Mountain West program made it to the Elite Eight.
On Saturday, April 1, the Aztecs faced the FAU Owls and were trailing by 14 points at halftime. But the team rallied to close the gap, and within the last seconds of the game, Lamont Butler scored a buzzer-beater to give the Aztecs a 72-71 victory. It was the fifth largest comeback ever during a men’s Final Four game, and the resulting celebrations from the crowd at the NRG Arena, were like a scene from a movie. Across San Diego, venues erupted into cheers (like this scene at Petco Park) as they watched the Aztecs advance to the championship game for the first time.
This monumental performance has earned the Aztecs national recognition, and we’re repping scarlet and black gear to celebrate their unforgettable successes this season. The team will take another shot at the 2024 title, but they’ll have a hard time topping this year’s excitement.
