LAS VEGAS – Behind 20 points from Tournament MVP MJ Collins Jr., top seeded Utah State won the 2026 Mountain West Postseason Championship with a 73-62 victory over second-seeded San Diego State. It is the Aggies third MW postseason title in the last eight years and the 11th in program history.
LAS VEGAS -- Nique Clifford scored 24 points and No. 2 seed Colorado State made a Mountain West tournament-record 12 3s and beat fifth-seeded Boise State 69-56 on Saturday night for its first title since 2003.
Colorado State (25-9) will make its second straight NCAA tournament appearance on a 10-game win streak.
Boise State trailed by 10 points at the half and pulled to within five points during the first minute of the second. But Jaylen Crocker-Johnson hit consecutive 3-pointers during an 11-0 run and the Rams led 43-27. Clifford made the Rams' 12th 3-pointer with about 10 minutes left that stretched their lead to 60-36.
Ethan Moore scored a career-high 11 points and Bowen Born added nine for the Rams. Clifford and Born each made three 3s as the Rams shot 12 of 24 from distance.
Tyson Degenhart scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to lead Boise State (24-9).
Colorado State took the lead for good about eight minutes in and led by as many as 17 points in the first half. Boise State used an 11-4 surge to cut the deficit to 32-22 at the break. Crocker-Johnson's layup gave the Rams their largest lead, 63-38, with 6:48 remaining.
On Wednesday, No. 6-seeded New Mexico entered the Mountain West Tournament firmly on the bubble—desperately needing at least two wins over No. 11 Air Force and No. 3 Air Force to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
When the final buzzer sounded Saturday, they became the first team in conference history to win four games in four days, earning a 68-61 victory over No. 5 San Diego State Saturday afternoon, clinching their fifth-ever MW Tournament title and first since 2017-18.
New Mexico also became the first No. 6 seed since 2002-03 (Colorado State) to win the MW Tournament—the only other No. 6 seed to win it. Though that previous bracket—with just eight teams (it did not have 11 until 2013-14)—lasted just three days.
The Lobos were led by dynamic All-Conference guards Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn, who combined to score 49 of the team’s 68 points. House, who had a team-high 28 points, shot 10-of-22 from the floor and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. Mashburn tallied 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting with three triples as well, while JT Toppin finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting, hauling in multiple key (offensive) rebounds down the stretch.
San Diego State, playing in their seventh consecutive Mountain West Title game, missed 13 of its final 14 shots after taking a four-point lead with 7:08 left. Jaedon LeDee was its only double-figure scorer, posting 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six rebounds.
New Mexico shot just 37.5 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from 3-point range; SDSU shot just 35.7 percent and 20.0 percent from 3-point range. New Mexico forced 10 SDSU turnovers that led to 14 points off turnovers, while its four TOs didn’t lead to any additional Aztec points.
Three straight House triples gave the Lobos a nine-point lead with 6:44 left in the first half. Mashburn followed with a triple of his own before House’s fifth field goal of the contest widened their advantage to 32-18.
House and Mashburn ultimately scored 28 of New Mexico’s 36 points—including 24 of their final 26—in the first half, as the Lobos entered up by six. New Mexico shot 44.1 percent compared to San Diego State’s 44.4 percent. New Mexico held LeDee scoreless for the game’s first 17:30, swarming him on every catch inside 15 feet.
Waters’ three-point play followed by an eight-foot floater gave San Diego State their first lead of the evening. After Parrish’s first 3-pointer of the evening put San Diego State up four, two consecutive Toppin’ putbacks knotted the contest up at 57.
JT Toppin’s shot-clock beating finish gave New Mexico a 61-59 lead with 2:29 remaining. The knockout blow came with 1:20 left, when House’s drifting three-point play gave New Mexico its first two-possession lead in since the 14:30 left in the first half.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jaedon LeDee scored 15 points and Matt Bradley added 14 to lead No. 20 San Diego State to a 62-57 victory over Utah State in Saturday's Mountain West Tournament championship game.
The Aztecs (27-6) claimed their seventh tournament title, and second in three years. This also was their conference-record 15th appearance in the title game.
San Diego State clinched the conference's bid to the NCAA Tournament, though it was never in doubt the Aztecs would be selected. What kind of seed San Diego State receives remains to be seen.
Utah State (26-8) also figures to be headed to the tournament when the selections are announced Sunday.
This was the fourth time in the last five years the teams have played each other in the Mountain West championship game. Utah State won the 2019 and 2020 title games, and San Diego State went home with the 2021 trophy. Boise State temporarily ended the monopoly last season by beating the Aztecs 53-52.
Neither team shot well Saturday, with San Diego State making 33.3% of its shots compared to 37.1% for the Aggies.
No San Diego State players reached double-figure scoring other than Ledee and Mitchell. For Utah State, Steven Ashworth scored 13 points and Trevin Dorius 12.
The Aggies were hot early, however, going on a 12-2 run in the first half to take a 26-15 lead with 6:57 left, but then went cold. They failed to make another field goal until 1:43 into the second half, but somehow didn't fall behind during that stretch.
But the Aztecs got close, and eventually went back and forth with Utah State in the second half. San Diego State nearly put away the game by going up 53-46 with 3:03 left, but the Aggies got back to within three points with 48 seconds remaining and two points with 30.3 seconds to go.
San Diego State closed out the game at the free throw line by making 9 of 10 free throws in the final 43 seconds.
THE BIG PICTURE
Utah State: The Aggies entered the game fourth nationally in 3-point percentage at 40.1, but struggled badly against San Diego State's long, athletic defense. Utah State made just 4 of 24 3-point attempts.
San Diego State: The Aztecs come in waves. Nine players were in the game, and each was on the floor for at least 16 minutes and eight at least 19. All nine scored and collected rebounds.
UP NEXT
Utah State: The Aggies have a NET ranking of No. 18, so it would be quite a surprise if they aren't selected to the NCAA Tournament.
San Diego State: A potential six seed could be coming San Diego State's way, but the Aztecs also might have worked their way into a No. 5.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Jake Haener threw for 184 yards and a touchdown, Nikko Remigio returned a punt 70 yards for a score, and Fresno State defeated Boise State 28-16 to win the Mountain West Conference championship Saturday afternoon.
Fresno State (9-4) overcame a 1-4 start to the season and a rash of injuries to win its final eight games, claiming the program's third Mountain West crown.
Boise State (9-4), which won 40-20 in the regular-season match-up between the teams, fell to 3-3 in Mountain West title games.
Boise State controlled the game early but struggled to find the end zone, clinging to a 3-0 lead late in the first half. But that all changed when Fresno State scored two touchdowns in a span of 2:36 right before halftime.
Remigio's electric return snaking back and forth across the field sparked Fresno State before Cameron Lockridge intercepted the first of two passes, returning it 25 yards to the Broncos' 17-yard line. Three plays later, Jordan Mims scored on a 2-yard run to put the Bulldogs up 14-3. They never relinquished the lead.
After Boise State edged within 14-9 in the third quarter, Fresno State tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Jordan Mims rushed for 83 yards and a pair of scores for Fresno State.
Boise State's Taylen Green was 17-of-38 passing for 175 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
THE TAKEAWAY
Boise State: While Broncos quarterback Green made his initial splash on the team with his legs, it's his arm that turned the season around. However, Green was often off-target against Fresno State.
Fresno State: The Bulldogs' 10-3 campaign a year ago served as a springboard for sustained success in 2022. However, Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford, who has now won two Mountain West titles, will have his work cut out for him in 2023 as his talented team is losing eight seniors on offense and five more on defense. If he chooses to utilize the transfer portal, he could shore up the team's short-term needs and keep Fresno State in contention for another conference title.
LAS VEGAS — The Boise State men's basketball team made history Saturday, taking down San Diego State 53-52 in Las Vegas to clinch the first Mountain West Tournament Championship in school history.
For the 12th time this season, the Broncos (27-7, 15-3 MW) battled to win a contest by six points or less. Saturday's title game at the Thomas & Mack Center went down to the wire, with the Aztecs missing two potentially game-winning shots with less than 10 seconds to play.
Mountain West Freshman of the Year Tyson Degenhart led all Bronco scorers with 13 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Emmanuel Akot added 10 points in Boise State's big win and senior forward Abu Kigab filled the stat line with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The win over the Aztecs (23-8, 13-4) marks Boise State's first men's basketball conference championship since it won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2008.
The Broncos' 2022 squad is just the sixth team in Mountain West history to win both the outright regular season title and the Mountain West Tournament Championship crown. Boise State came out victorious in each of its three contests with the Aztecs this season.
Saturday's win also gives Boise State an automatic qualifier bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the Broncos will be the highest seeded team out of the Mountain West.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs Sunday at 4 p.m. MT. When the Broncos learn their March Madness fate, they will be surrounded by Bronco Nation back home in Boise.
Earlier this week, Boise State Athletics announced the Broncos will be hosting a watch party for Selection Sunday at ExtraMile Arena from 3-5 p.m. MT.
The event is free for the public to attend and parking in the West and East Stadium Lots also is free. Boise State said attendees should use Entry 2 to enter the watch party.
LAS VEGAS -- — San Diego State lost the last two Mountain West Tournament championship games to Utah State, and hadn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2018.
It was time to turn the tables Saturday.
Matt Mitchell scored 14 points to lead No. 19 San Diego State to a 68-57 victory over the Aggies to win the title and secure the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
"I know the guys that were there last year definitely had it in mind," said Mitchell, who was named the tournament's MVP. "We kind of hoped that Utah State would be here so we could get our redemption."
The Aztecs, who also won the regular-season championship, had lost six of their previous seven title game appearances.
It marked just the fifth time the No. 1 seed won the title in 22 years.
Nathan Mensah added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Aztecs, and Trey Pulliam also scored 10.
It marked the third straight tournament game the Aztecs had at least three players score in double figures. Six different players scored in double figures in the event, including Pulliam in all three games.
"Our depth was something that was important, and it paid off for us in the end," San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. "I think we had fresh legs down the stretch cause we could rest players. Everybody that plays for us contributes and it's a different player every night."
Junior center Neemias Queta led the Aggies with 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots. Justin Bean added 12 points and six rebounds.
San Diego State (23-4) snapped Utah State's six-game winning streak, during which the Aggies (20-8) had allowed just 58.5 points per game. The Aztecs had their 58th point by the 5:53 mark of the second half.
Meanwhile, San Diego State held the Aggies to their second-lowest output of the season, 16.9 points below their season average of 73.9.
In a battle between the league's two most stringent defenses, San Diego State exhibited its dominance with a 10-2 edge in steals. The turnover margin was seven, with Utah State committing 16 costly turnovers the Aztecs turned into 14 points.
Already having suffered a regular-season sweep by Utah State, the Aztecs wasted no time at distancing themselves from the second-seeded Aggies by using a 6-0 run to start the second half and take a 34-24 lead and never really looked back.
The first half was eerily similar to last year's championship game, which saw the teams combine to shoot 19 of 58 (32%) in the first half while scoring 50 points. In this game, the teams were 21 for 57 (36.8%) and combined to score 52 pts in the first half.
Outside of Queta, the Aggies couldn't get much going with their offense, as the 7-footer had 12 of the team's 24 points. While Queta was 4 of 6 from the floor in the first 20 minutes, the rest of the Aggies were just 5 of 18 (27.7%) from the field. Utah State was also plagued with turnovers, committing eight under San Diego State's tenacious defense.
"There's just a play here and a play there that can just change the game," Utah State coach Craig Smith said. "This time around they made just a few more of those than we did. A couple of catastrophic turnovers … we just jumped and threw it, and they get a steal and go the other way. Those are big time game-changers and momentum-changers."
Though the Aztecs weren't as offensively efficient as Utah State in the first half, hitting just 12 of 33 (36.4%), they got better balance with six shooters contributing on the stat sheet.
With the loss, the Aggies now await their fate for a bid into the NCAA Tournament. Though Utah State has looked every bit like a team that deserves a bid, there's never a guarantee with the selection committee as the Mountain West has been a conference denied at-large bids mainly due to its lack of Quad 1 wins. The Aggies have just two Quad 1 wins and one Quad 2 victory. It also has its two regular season wins over San Diego State.
"The top of this league is very strong," Dutcher said. "Hopefully were a multi-bid league. But I know when those doors close and they get in that room, over the years the Power of 5s have won the day. Hopefully that changes tomorrow."
BIG PICTURE:
Utah State: The Aggies came into the game ranked 22nd in the nation with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game, and with 136 more boards on the offensive glass than their opponents. Saturday they finished with 12.
San Diego State: Saturday marked the fifth time this season Mensah had at least eight points and eight rebounds. It was the first time he had accomplished the feat since Feb. 8.
UP NEXT
Utah State: Hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid
San Diego State: NCAA Tournament
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