SDSU vs. New Mexico
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 760-AM
Records: SDSU is 21-10; New Mexico is 23-9
Series history: SDSU leads 31-15, but New Mexico is 5-4 in the last nine games. The teams split the regular season series, the Aztecs winning 83-79 on Jan. 17 at Viejas Arena, the Lobos winning 81-76 on Feb. 28 at The Pit. The last meeting in the conference tournament was the 2024 final, a 68-61 Lobos victory.
Aztecs update: The hard part about the 9 p.m. semi is that if you win, you have to play again the next day at 3 p.m. in the final (the time slot CBS demands for the national network telecast). But the Aztecs have the most depth among the semifinalists, and even though they used a shortened nine-man rotation Thursday, only two players logged more than 22 minutes (Miles Byrd at 30 and Reese Dixon-Waters at 33). New Mexico went with a 7½-man rotation, and all five starters played between 24 and 36 minutes. SDSU also had an extra day of rest before the tournament, closing the regular season at home last Friday while the Lobos played on the road Saturday. Rebounding, of course, will be the key, especially against a team that beat them handily on the boards in the two regular-season meetings. “We can’t get dominated on the glass,” coach Brian Dutcher said. “If we rebound, then we can play with anybody in this tournament.” They had a 43-31 edge on the glass in the 71-62 quarterfinal win against Colorado State, and the defense was better after allowing 81.6 points over the previous five games. The offense, though, took a step back with a 1 of 11 performance on 3s and an equally abysmal 22 of 42 from the line. Some bracketologists consider this a bubble elimination game, with the loser having no chance an at-large NCAA invitation and the winner have some chance, though hardly a lock.
Aztecs beat Colorado State, advance in Mountain West Tournament
Lobos update: They beat San Jose State 93-77 in Thursday’s late quarterfinal game, which didn’t finish until 11 p.m. Coach Eric Olen, who spent the previous 21 years at UC San Diego, switched up the starting lineup by inserting 5-foot-8 freshman Uriah Tenette for 6-9 Antonio Chol at Chol’s request. Tenette responded with eight points, nine assists, no turnovers and three steals. Carlsbad High School alum Jake Hall had 19 points on 5 of 6 shooting behind the arc in 36 minutes. Saint Augustine High School alum Luke Haupt added 15 points. The Lobos had 26 assists on 38 baskets and scored 56 points in the paint. But the real problem, for San Jose State and for SDSU in both meetings this season, was 23-year-old Croatian pro Tomislav Buljan. The 6-9, 240-pound forward had 25 points (on 10 of 11 shooting) and 14 rebounds against the Spartans. He had 20 and 14 in the first game against the Aztecs, 24 and 18 in the second. Asked his thoughts about facing New Mexico in the semifinals, Dutcher joked: “That Buljan will probably get 72 rebounds against us. I think we know what that is.” Said Buljan: “100% they’re going to prepare different this time. Like, they watch this game. They have a little bit more rest than us.” New Mexico is 49 in the Kenpom metric, three spots below SDSU. Kenpom projects a 76-75 Aztecs victory. But of the two teams, most bracketologists rate the Lobos’ overall tournament resume slightly better.
Next up: The winner advances to the Mountain West tournament final on Saturday (3 p.m., CBS)
— MARK ZEIGLER
