We are back in PIT WEST in Las Vegas for the final MW Conference matchup between the 3 seed New Mexico Lobos (23-9) and the 2 seed SDSU Aztecs (21-10). The two teams split the two meetings this year with both teams winning close games on their home courts. SDSU was able to dominate the glass (something that isn’t normal with this team) and the foul line (they didn’t shoot well there) to get past the 7 seed CSU, the Lobos were able to impose their will against a short rotation 11 seed SJSU. This is an elimination game for the NCAA Tournament, as the team that doesn’t come away with the win will not be an at large team. The winner has a little hope if they lose the Championship Game with USU winning the first Semifinal Game tonight against the 5 seed Nevada, mean that the only “bid stealer” from the MW would be one of these two teams. The game will be starting in about 20 minutes (around 9:28 local time). I will be updating this as the game goes along, and of course will be keeping updates on Twitter and Bluesky.
Starters for the game:
SDSU: Sean Newman Jr., Tae Simmons, Miles Byrd, Reese Dixon-Waters, Miles Heide.
Lobos: Uriah Tenette, Deyton Albury, Jake Hall, Luke Haupt, Tomislav Buljan.
Game Officials: Nate Harris, Kevin Brill, Jason Phillips, with Rob Kueneman as standby.
Interesting to see this lineup for SDSU, with no Harrington in the lineup, they are keeping Davis in the bench role.
Awful start for the Lobos. 4 possession, 3 turnovers. SDSU with an early 6-0 lead. Albury with a big three to get the scoring started for the Lobos. Buljan with the and1 to tie it up at 6-6 just 3 minutes in. Great response by the Lobos. Hall with his first three of the game. Great drive by Tenette will send him to the line for two FTs after the TO.
14:47 1H: (2) SDSU 10 (3) Lobos 9.
Tenette hits both FTs to give the Lobos the lead back.
Looking for a possible hook and hold, it was the same two players that were involved in the PIT a couple of weeks ago. This time the foul was called on SDSU.
What a finish by DA at the rim. Tenette with an insane block which leads to a three for Miller. Fun one shaping up in PIT WEST. SDSU will have 2 FTs after the TO.
10:53 1H: Lobos 16 SDSU 11.
7-0 run for SDSU to take an 18-16 lead. Also, the Lobos have missed two front ends of 1-1s. Looked like a possible foul on a Haupt attempt at a dunk, no call, which leads to a Byrd 3 to give SDSU a kill shot. Buljan with an and1 to send us to the under 8 TO.
7:10 1H: SDSU 21 Lobos 18. Buljan with a FT after the TO.
Buljan misses the FT, but a 3 by Haupt and a pull up jumper by Tenette to send SDSU into a TO.
6:18 1H: Lobos 23 SDSU 21.
Another run by SDSU, a couple of 3s and an and1 (FT to come after the TO).
3:48 1H: SDSU 29 Lobos 25.
3 fouls on Hall (2:57 1H).
3 fouls on Albury (2:37 1H). Sure looked like a couple of fouls on the Buljan rebound and shot. Big 3 by Rock.
Halftime: SDSU 37 Lobos 33. That half could have gotten away from the Lobos a couple times in that half, they will have to milk some minutes with Hall and Albury with 3 fouls. Lobos turned it over too much, didn’t shoot well, and left points at the line. If they are able to clean those up (and keep Hall and Albury on the court), I really like the Lobos chances.
A lot of refs would have called the 4th foul on DA, they didn’t and he gets the bucket to start the scoring for the Lobos in the 2H.
16:00 2H: SDSU 41 Lobos 39. Would be interested to see if Olen tries to get both DA and Hall to the under 12 with just the 3 fouls. Chol and Miller have both played well so you should be able to do that with Tenette.
Chol with a big 3. Compton just picked up foul number 3 for SDSU, and number 4 with 13:21 left.
Tenette with a nice runner in the lane. Lobos have left way too many points at the line. They need to clean that up, because they are about to be in the bonus for the rest of the game.
11:24 2H: SDSU 48 Lobos 46. Lobos have been able to keep Albury and Hall away from their 4th foul, which will allow them to keep their normal rotations.
Rock hits 1 of 2 from the line. That’s 10 points left at the line. Albury with a massive 3. His second of the night.
7:51 2H: SDSU 52 Lobos 50. Lobos will be looking to get someone else going besides Albury. Lobos will be in the bonus for the rest of the game. This is an insane stat. The Lobos have 17 offensive rebounds but only have 7 second chance points.
Haupt with a great post move to tie the game back up. Both teams will be in the bonus for the rest of the game. DA with a strong drive to give the Lobos the lead back. Rock to the line for a 1-1 and he misses. That is way too many points left at the line.
5:05 2H: SDSU 57 Lobos 54.
Gwath with a massive 3 for SDSU.
3:32 2H: SDSU 60 Lobos 56.
Tenette splits a pair.
2:24 2H: SDSU 60 Lobos 58.
1:02 2H: SDSU 62 Lobos 58. SDSU will have the ball with 20 on the shot clock.
2.1 2H: SDSU 64 Lobos 62. Lobos ball.
.6 2H: SDSU 64 Lobos 62. Lobos ball.