ORLANDO, Fla. (KGTV/AP) — No. 5 seed San Diego State is advancing to the Sweet 16 after defeating 13-seeded Furman, 75-52, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
This is the third time in program history the Aztecs have reached the Sweet 16 and the first time since 2014.
Darrion Trammell had 13 points, Lamont Butler added 12 and leading scorer Matt Bradley finished with 10 for San Diego State (29-6). The Aztecs have won 11 of their past 13 games and will play either Alabama or Maryland next week in the South Region semifinals in Louisville, Kentucky.
San Diego State is the first Mountain West Conference team to reach the Sweet 16 since Nevada in 2018. This is the seventh regional semifinal appearance for the Mountain West overall.
Two days after shrugging off cold shooting and overcoming a 12-point, second-half deficit to shock No. 4 seed Virginia 68-67 on JP Pegues' bracket-busting 3-pointer, Furman was outmuscled and gradually worn down by the much more physical Aztecs.
Southern Conference player and the year Jalen Slawson picked up his fourth foul with 16:27 remaining and fouled out shortly after returning midway through the second half. The super senior stomped the floor in protest, drawing a technical foul that gave San Diego State a pair of free throws that put the Aztecs up 60-37.
Mike Bothwell led the 13th-seeded Paladins (28-8) with 15 points. Alex Williams had 11 and Pegues finished with 11 as Furman shot 32%, including 6 of 26 from 3-point range.
Alabama vs. Maryland is the final game of the Saturday slate. That game tips off on TBS at 6:40 p.m.
Louisville, Kentucky, is the site for the South Region's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups. The regional semifinals begin Thursday, March 23.
