All year, San Diego State has been able to overcome first-half sluggishness and win.
But with the season winding down, the Aztecs couldn’t get past their latest poor start, losing a Mountain West showdown Tuesday night to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 62-58.
The No. 21 Aztecs (22-8, 11-6 MW) and the Runnin’ Rebels (19-10, 12-5 MW) entered the game tied for second place in the conference. They were just one game behind the top two teams, Utah State and Boise State, tied for first place.
With one game remaining in the season for both teams, the Tuesday clash was critical to decide who would win the regular season title and earn improved seeding for the conference tournament next week.
With the loss, and a Boise State setback to Nevada, the Aztecs fell to fifth place in the MW, two games off the pace with only one left to play.
The good news: They are still very likely to be selected for the NCAA tournament this month, even if they don’t win the conference tournament.
The Aztecs started slow again. It took them more than five minutes to score their first points, and those came on free throws by Jaedon LeDee. By then, UNLV, winners of four straight coming into the game, already had knocked down two three pointers to give them a 6-0 lead.
The UNLV defense continued hounding the Aztecs and the Runnin’ Rebels kept scoring, pushing their lead to double digits at 16-5. It didn’t get much better from there, with forward Kalib Boone hitting back-to-back three pointers to push the Rebels to a 27-10 lead.
The Aztecs began to climb back into the game, starting with an Elijah Saunders three-pointer and two free throws from LeDee. Then Lamont Butler and Saunders hit three-pointers to cut the lead down to single digits, 28-23.
UNLV would hold onto a five-point lead through the end of the half, at 33-28. The ugly numbers for the Aztecs included a 22.9% field-goal percentage and being out-rebounded 23-19. They never held the lead in the first half.
After the start of the second half, the Aztecs briefly sliced the lead to three, but UNLV pushed it back up again to 10. Saunders, however, hit back-to-back threes and Miles Byrd also hit a three to cut the lead to one, at 42-41, with 12 minutes remaining.
The teams exchanged baskets, with the lead going back up as high as six points for UNLV. The Aztecs cut it to one again, but UNLV began to pull away, going up by seven with just under four minutes to go.
With the clock ticking away, the Aztecs kept the score close, and then Butler hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to two points with 1:08 to go. After a steal, Butler scored again to tie the game at 58-58 with 44 seconds left.
UNLV took the lead and with time winding down, then Boone blocked a three-point attempt by Micah Parrish. Guard Dedan Thomas, Jr. hit two free throws to end the Aztecs’ chances for victory.
Now, the regular season comes down to one last game Friday, as SDSU, attempting to remain undefeated at home, hosts Boise State at 7 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised on
FS1.