Final Stats

Jan. 17, 2004

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Aerick Sanders scored 23 points and Brandon Heath added 21 points, leading San Diego State to an 83-78 win over UNLV on Saturday.

The win allowed San Diego State (11-6, 2-0 Mountain West) to open conference play with two victories in consecutive years for the first time since the 1985 and 1986 seasons.

Heath and Sanders each hit key shots in the final 10 minutes and Wesley Stokes made two big plays after UNLV (9-5, 0-2) cut the lead to four late in the game.

UNLV's J. K. Edwards blasts his way through the defense of San Diego State's Trimaine Davis during first half.

Odartey Blankson had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Rebels, who hit 51.9 percent of their shots but committed 22 turnovers.

The Aztecs led 63-59 when Heath scored on a fast-break layup, Sanders converted a rebound into a basket and Heath hit a 15-foot jumper for a 69-59 lead with 6:02 left in the game.

Sanders then converted two straight 3-point plays to give San Diego State its biggest lead, 75-63, at the 4:37 mark.

The Runnin' Rebels went on an 11-3 run to get to pull within four, 78-74, on James Peters' basket. But Stokes came right back and went the length of the floor for a layup.

On the Aztecs' next possession, Stokes fed Chris Walton for a basket off the fast break for an 82-74 lead with 1:46 remaining.

Stokes finished with 10 points and seven assists and Marcus Slaughter added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Peters had 15 points for UNLV.