It wasn’t the most orthodox game played by the San Diego State men’s basketball team, but they were able to come out on top of Illinois State University in its season opener, 71-60.
Forty seven personal fouls called kept the game from ever reaching a rhythm, but the Aztecs were able to prevail on the backs of a trusty veteran, junior Dakari Allen, and a young gun, freshman guard Jeremy Hemsley.
Unlike last season, free-throws helped fuel the Aztecs to a victory as they shot 62.9 percent from the line as a team.
With sophomore guard Trey Kell forced to sit because of foul trouble most of the game, and eventually fouling out midway through the second half, Allen flourished, setting a career-high in points with 12 in just 13 minutes in the first half.