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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Brandon Heath scored 21 points as San Diego State defeated Utah 72-67 Wednesday night, the Aztecs' first road win against Utah since 1982. Mohamed Abukar, playing just his fifth game of the year after transferring from Florida last season, scored 16 points and Marcus Slaughter added 14 before fouling out. SDSU (9-6, 2-1 Mountain West ) held Utah (8-6, 1-2) without a field goal for the final 6:18 and held on despite giving the Utes several chances in the final moments. John Sharper made a 3-pointer to give the Aztecs a 70-66 lead with 1:59 to play. Ricky Johns made one of two free throws to get Utah within three points. In the final 41 seconds, Heath traveled, Abukar failed to inbound the ball within five seconds and Richie Williams missed the front end of a 1-and-1. But each time, Utah failed to convert on the other end. Johnny Bryant led Utah with 17 points but missed a 3-point attempt to tie it in the final seconds. Bryant Markson had 12 for the Utes. Heath is 22 of 40 from 3-point range the last five games, scoring more than 20 points in each outing. But the guard was unable to shake Ricky John's defense to score the final 11:52 of the game. Utah led 23-10 with 6:33 left in the first half before the Aztecs battled back and cut it to 34-32 on Heath s bank 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. SDSU and Utah were picked to finish first and second in the MWC preseason media poll.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-01-11-06 2150MST
