Photo credit: @Aztec_MBB

By: Ana Kieu

LAS VEGAS — There won’t be any San Jose State Spartans men’s basketball games until next season, but college basketball fans rejoiced as the San Diego State Aztecs took on the New Mexico Lobos in the Mountain West championship game Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The beginning featured plenty of back-and-forth action as the Lobos opened the scoring as Vladimir Pinchuk made a layup and Troy Simons hit a 3-pointer in the first two minutes of the opening half. Then, the Aztecs’ Malik Pope sank a pair of free throws to get his team on the board.

The Lobos pushed ahead for a 10-2 lead over the Aztecs as Sam Logwood hit a three and Antino Jackson followed up with a layup. Before the first media timeout, New Mexico led San Diego State 12-4 at the 15:34 mark of the half. At that time, UNM went 5-6 (83.3%) in FG% and 2-2 (100%) in 3FG%.

The Aztecs made it a one-point game as they trailed the Lobos 14-13 at the 11:37 mark of the half. At that time, SDSU went 5-11 (45.5%) in FG% and 1-3 (33%) in 3FG%, while UNM went 6-11 (54.5%) on FG% and 2-3 (66.7%) in 3FG%.

Thanks to a Kell jumper, the Aztecs took a 22-20 lead over the Lobos with 7:56 left to go in the half. At the time, SDSU went 8-17 (47.1%) in FG% and 2-5 (40.0%) in 3FG%, while UNM went 8-18 (44.4%) in FG% and 2-5 (40.0%) in 3FG%.

These two teams exchanged leads late in the half.

The Aztecs added to their lead for a little over a minute; the Lobos tied the game on Jackson and Mathis’ 3-pointers, respectively; and then the Aztecs’ Kameron Rooks sank a pair of free throws to put SDSU back on top 31-29 with 4:03 left to go in the half. At that time, SDSU went 11-25 (44.0%) in FG%, 2-6 (33.3%) in 3FG% and 7-7 (100.0%) in FT%, while UNM went 11-24 (45.8%) in FG%, 5-10 (50.0%) in 3FG% and 2-2 (100.0%) in FT%.

In a wilder string of exchanges, Simons hit a three to tie the game at 37 apiece, Aztecs’ Jalen McDaniels made a jumper and then the spotlight went back on Simons as he made a free throw with just one second left to go in the half. The Aztecs carried a 39-38 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Here are the halftime stats: SDSU went 14-30 (46.7%) in FG%, 2-8 (25.0%) in 3FG% and 9-11 (81.8%) in FT%, while UNM went 14-31 (45.2%) in FG%, 6-11 (54.5%) in 3FG% and 4-5 (80.0%) in FT%.

The Aztecs went on a brief 4-0 run on Kell and Pope’s jumpers, respectively, and then McDaniel’s dunk. SDSU led UNM 49-47 at the 15:29 mark of the second half. At that time, SDSU outscored UNM 9-2 on second chance points. SDSU went 5-6 (83.3%) in FG%, while UNM went 4-7 (57.1%) in FG% and 1-3 (33.3%) in 3FG%.

The Lobos had a one-point lead over the Aztecs at the 11:41 mark of the half. At that time, UNM went 6-11 (54.5%) in FG%, 2-6 (33.3%) in 3FG% and 0-1 (0.0%) in FT%, while SDSU went 6-11 (54.5%), 0-1 (0.0%) in 3FG% and 0-2 (0.0%) in FT%.

The Lobos continued to build up its lead to six points for a 63-57 advantage over the Aztecs with 7:35 left to go in the half. At that time, UNM went 10-20 (50.0%) in FG%, 2-8 (25.0%) in 3FG% and 3-4 (75.0%) in FT%, while SDSU went 8-15 (53.3%) in FG%, 0-2 (0.0%) in 3FG% and 2-5 (40.0%) in FT%.

However, the Lobos’ lead was short-lived, partially because they went cold for more than five minutes. The Aztecs led by six, 71-65, with 3:57 left to go in the half. At that time, SDSU went 12-22 (54.5%) in FG%, 3-6 (50.0%) in 3FG% and 5-8 (62.5%) in FT%, while UNM went 10-25 (40.0%) in FG%, 2-9 (22.2%) in 3FG% and 5-6 (83.3%) in FT%.

The seconds on the clock slowly ticked away, and the Lobos unfortunately let a substantial amount of time slip away before fouling. The Aztecs led the Lobos by six, 81-75, with 7.1 seconds left on the clock. Pope made the final free throw of the game to help the Aztecs to a 82-75 win over the Lobos for the Mountain West title.

Here are the final stats: SDSU went 28-56 (50.0%) in FG%, 5-15 (33.3%) in 3FG% and 21-29 (72.4%) in FT%, while UNM went 26-63 (41.3%) in FG%, 8-24 (33.3%) in 3FG% and 15-17 (88.2%) in FT%.

Notes
No. 5 Aztecs’ starting lineup: Devin Watson (#0; G), Trey Kell (#3, G), Jalen McDaniels (#5; F), Matt Mitchell (#11; F) and Malik Pope (#21; F).

No. 3 Lobos’ starting lineup: Chris McNeal (#1; G), Sam Logwood (#2, G/F), Antino Jackson (#3, G), Vladimir Pinchuk (#15, F/C) and Troy Simons (#31, G).