The final week for San Diego State as members of the Mountain West Conference is here. The 2026 MW Tournament is here and all the seedings and exciting matchups are locked in. And boy are they going to be exciting on the way out of the door.
Coming down the stretch of this regulars season many of the teams near the top began to slip up more than expected (SDSU, Utah State, New Mexico) and many of the teams that struggled all season long began to catch a fire at the right time (Colorado State, Boise State, UNLV).
The stage has been set that there may only be one team to advance to the NCAA Tournament and that raises the stakes of competition to a level not seen in a while. The Aztecs haven’t felt this kind of pressure in a while as they are generally locked in to the field of 68 regardless of the conference tournament outcome. This is not that kind of year unfortunately.
Since joining the Mountain West in 1999, San Diego State has become one of the conference’s most successful tournament teams, winning seven conference tournament titles (2002, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and compiling a 44–19 overall tournament record.
In this final year of competition for the Aztecs, we take a look over the years and these are our Top-10 Most Exciting SDSU Victories in the Mountain West Conference Tournament:
10. 2023 Quarterfinal: SDSU vs Colorado State
Score: SDSU 64, Colorado State Rams men’s basketball 61
Date: March 9, 2023
Location: Las Vegas
The start of the run that ended with SDSU winning the tournament began with a nerve wracking 1st round matchup that took the Aztecs to the edge.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Bradley: 13 pts
- SDSU – Nathan Mensah: 9 pts, 10 reb, 3 blocks
- Colorado State – Isaiah Stevens: 18 pts
Why it was exciting:
Late defensive stops preserved a narrow win that propelled SDSU’s title run.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU won the Mountain West tournament and later reached the 2023 NCAA title game.
9. 2010 Championship: SDSU vs UNLV
Score: SDSU 55, UNLV 45
Date: March 13, 2010
Location: Las Vegas
The Aztecs suffocated UNLV defensively to claim their first MW title in four years and the women’s team took care of business as well.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Leonard: 12 pts, 10 reb
- SDSU – Thomas: 10 pts, 9 reb
- UNLV – Stanback: 12 pts
Why it was exciting:
The defensive intensity and championship stakes made it a memorable victory. Nothing like beating UNLV in their home court. This was definitely a defining win that sparked the dominance the Aztecs would go on the have there at the Thomas & Mack.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in four seasons.
8. 2024 Quarterfinal (OT): SDSU vs UNLV
Score: SDSU 74, UNLV 71 (OT)
Date: March 14, 2024
Location: Las Vegas
One of the most dramatic recent tournament games. Many of these come at the expense of UNLV for some reason. Anyways, it wasn’t supposed to be this close but a year removed from the team’s Final Four run, everyone in the MW was gunning for the Aztecs.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Jaedon LeDee: 34 pts, 16 reb
- SDSU – Lamont Butler: 12 pts
- UNLV – Dedan Thomas Jr.: 22 pts
Why it was exciting:
LeDee was an unstoppable force against the Rebels and dominated overtime and sealed the win with clutch free throws.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU reached the tournament final but lost to New Mexico.
7. 2023 Championship: SDSU vs Utah State
Score: SDSU 62, Utah State Aggies men’s basketball 57
Date: March 11, 2023
Location: Las Vegas
A gritty low scoring defensive battle in typical SDSU style. The Aztecs defeated Utah State that season 3 times—leaving no doubt they were the most dominant team in the league.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Matt Bradley: 17 pts
- SDSU – Lamont Butler: 10 pts, key defensive stops
- Utah State – Steven Ashworth: 15 pts
Why it was exciting:
SDSU closed the game on a decisive late run with lock down defense, rebounding, and a crucial bucket when needed—the trademark of that special team.
Postseason outcome:
The Aztecs went on to make the 2023 NCAA national championship game. Can’t even remember what Utah State did afterwards.
6. 2002 Championship: SDSU vs UNLV
Score: SDSU 78, UNLV 75
Date: March 9, 2002
Location: Las Vegas
The first Mountain West tournament title in SDSU history. Names like Holcomb, Bland, Mackell, and Moore, stand out for the team that got the Fisher era to the standard that would build every year on.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Randy Holcomb: 20 pts, 9 reb
- SDSU – Tony Bland: 18 pts
- UNLV – Dalron Johnson: 24 pts
Why it was exciting:
The Aztecs survived a furious UNLV comeback late in the game. Deandre Moore nailed late free throws and a Rebels nearly tied it with a three pointer that just missed.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU earned its first NCAA tournament bid since 1985—Holy Cow, 17 years in the making!
5. 2010 Semifinal: SDSU vs New Mexico
Score: SDSU 72, New Mexico 69
Date: March 12, 2010
Location: Las Vegas
This win set up SDSU’s first of back to back tournament championships.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Billy White: 16 pts
- SDSU – D.J. Gay: 14 pts
- New Mexico – Dairese Gary: 18 pts
Why it was exciting:
The Aztecs knocked off the tournament favorite in a tight finish. The and 1 by Billy White late in the game was a game changer in this always physical game. When DJ Gay hit a deep three pointer at about the minute mark there was no looking back. The Lobos had a good look at the rim but the defense made it sloppy for the Lobos. Kawhi sealed the game with the rebound and free throws and New Mexico’s 15 game win streak was toast.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU defeated UNLV in the championship and returned to the NCAA tournament.
4. 2011 Semifinal: SDSU vs UNLV
Score: SDSU 74, UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball 72
Date: March 11, 2011
Location: Thomas & Mack Center
A classic Las Vegas rivalry game ended with a clutch jumper by the Aztecs’ senior point guard with seconds remaining. DJ Gay was the big shot maker this season and it saved SDSU in this one. UNLV was physical and talented as always, but the Aztecs were just tougher from top to bottom.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Leonard: 18 pts, 8 reb
- SDSU – D.J. Gay: 15 pts (game-winning basket)
- SDSU – Malcolm Thomas: 13 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
- UNLV – Chace Stanback: 22 pts
Why it was exciting:
Gay’s runner with 4.9 seconds left pushed SDSU into the championship game.
Postseason outcome: SDSU won the conference title the next day and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time.
3. 2006 Championship (OT): SDSU vs Wyoming
Score: SDSU 69, Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball 64 (OT)
Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Denver, Colorado
One of the earliest iconic moments in SDSU’s rise under coach Steve Fisher. The title game went to overtime, where clutch plays from SDSU’s all-time leading scorer Brandon Heath sealed the win.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Brandon Heath: 22 pts
- SDSU – Marcus Slaughter: 16 pts, 13 reb
- SDSU – Kyle Spain: 11 pts, 12 reb
- Wyoming – Brandon Ewing: 22 pts
Why it was exciting:
Wyoming had a four point lead in overtime but that was overcome despite foul trouble. Heath was absolutely big time when it mattered the most—scoring six points in the final 1:08 of overtime to secure the championship.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU earned an NCAA tournament bid but when on to lose a close one to Indiana.
2. 2018 Championship: SDSU vs New Mexico
Score: SDSU 82, New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball 75
Date: March 10, 2018
Location: Thomas & Mack Center
A thrilling championship with 11 lead changes and six ties, this game capped an improbable late-season surge for the Aztecs. Trey Kell carried SDSU with a massive scoring night.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Kell: 28 pts
- SDSU – Malik Pope: 16 pts, 5 reb
- SDSU – Devin Watson: 12 pts
- New Mexico – Anthony Mathis: 21 pts
Why it was exciting:
Brian Dutcher’s first season as head coach was a doozy. The team was not a team until late in season. The Aztecs and Lobos met in the Championship being the 5th & 3rd seeds—so neither were exactly favored to be there. The game swung back and forth until the final minute as SDSU completed a late comeback. Various players came through in big spots like Jeremy Hemsley, Max Montana, Kam Rooks. But it was the leadership of Trey Kell in those clutch moments that put the nail in the coffin of the Lobos.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU earned the automatic NCAA tournament bid but fell to Houston in dramatic fashion.
1. 2011 Championship: SDSU vs BYU
Score: SDSU 72, BYU 54
Date: March 12, 2011
Location: Thomas & Mack Center – Las Vegas
The culmination of the greatest season in program history to that point came when SDSU defeated rival BYU Cougars men’s basketball in the Mountain West championship. The matchup carried massive hype because BYU had the nation’s leading scorer, Jimmer Fredette, and had beaten the Aztecs twice in the regular season.
Standout performers
- SDSU – Billy White: 21 pts, 12 reb
- SDSU – Kawhi Leonard: 12 pts, 10 reb
- BYU – Fredette: 30 pts
Why it was exciting:
After two regular-season losses to BYU, SDSU dominated the championship game and secured the conference title on the biggest stage of the rivalry.
Postseason outcome:
SDSU entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 2 seed and reached the Sweet 16, the deepest run in program history at the time.
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