Ghanaian Center Nathan Mensah delivered another top defensive performance to aid San Diego State University Men’s Basketball Team secure a shock 71-64 win over top ranked University of Alabama.
The win pushes The Aztecs into the Elite Eight (quarterfinals) of the US Men’s National College Basketball Championship.
After playing well on the defensive side in the win over Furman University at the Round of 32 stage and drawing praise from Furman University Guard JP Pegues, Mensah followed it up with another top defensive delivery.
The 6 foot 10 inch player registered four points, eight rebounds, a steal, an assist and five blocks in 22 minutes as a starter. He led the game in the blocks category.
The 24 year old Mensah who is in his final season with San Diego State went viral after celebrating one of his blocks with a thumbs down sign that was made infamous by actor Joaquin Phoenix in the hit movie “Gladiator”.
Canada born Ghanaian Center Charles Bediako registered 10 points and seven rebounds for Alabama in the loss.
Mensah grew up in Accra and got introduced to basketball at a later age before moving to the United States.
I loved the subtle "thumbs down" by Mensah after the big block, ala Commodus in Gladiator. pic.twitter.com/LCD4BQ1aNr
— Steve Czaban (@czabe) March 25, 2023
Tired: Horns down
Wired: Thumbs down pic.twitter.com/pWSluDUFsq
— The College Basketball Stories Podcast (@theCBBstories) March 25, 2023
