San Diego State University Men’s Basketball team head coach, Brian Dutcher, has praised the defensive efforts of Ghanaian center Nathan Mensah as The Aztecs booked its first ever place in the US Men’s College Basketball Final Four.
Dutcher singled out the 6-foot, 10-inch Mensah’s efforts in slowing down Creighton University’s Ryan Kalkbrenner as San Diego run out with 57-56 win to book a place in the semifinals.
Mensah registered eight points, six rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes as a starter in the one-point win. Kalkbrenner scored 17 points but largely struggled in the second half and his performance was highlighted by his team’s head coach.
“When you’re playing a really good Center like Kalkbrenner, he’s going to score some baskets, you just try to make it as hard as you can on him and so I though Nate is a two time-Mountain West Division- Defensive Player of the year- made it hard.”
Mensah has impressed in the tournament with his defensive plays including a five-block performance in a 71-64 win over top rated University of Alabama.
San Diego State plays Florida Atlantic University on Saturday, April 1 at 22:04 GMT in the semifinals. University of Miami and University of Connecticut face off in the other semifinal game.