Game: New Mexico Lobos vs San Jose State
Date: Sunday, March 13, 2025
Time: 1200 p.m. PST 1:00 MST
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center
Radio: Lobo Sports Network, Rob Portnoy/Hunter Green
TV: CBS Sports Network
THE SERIES: New Mexico leads 22-6
New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State Aztecs Preview
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Lobos are the Mountain West regular-season champions. They start their title defense in the Mountain West Tournament on Thursday. Their first match is a quarterfinal against San Jose State.
The game will start at 1:00 p.m. MT (noon PT) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network will broadcast the event.
New Mexico (25-6, 17-3 MW) enters as the No. 1 seed after claiming its first regular-season title in 12 years, tying the conference Mountain West record with 17 league victories under head Lobo coach Richard Pitino.
You can bet the Lobos have not forgotten the end of their seven-game win streak. It snapped with a 71-70 loss at San Jose State. This happened on a last second shot on January 14th in San Jose.
Frankly, anyone familiar with most of the Mountain West basketball teams in the conference would agree. The Lobos did not play their best game. Meanwhile, the Spartans elevated their game.
This should be a very interesting game from a fan standpoint. I expect the game to be much different than when they played last.
The Lobs know that there is a team they are playing that is desperate to get into the NCAA tournament. That road goes through Richard Pitinos Lobos.
The Lobos traded the lead over the final minute, but San Jose State’s hoop with 2.2 seconds left in the game gave them the win.
Photo courtesy UNM Athletics
Donovan Dent, the Mountain West Player of the Year, leads the Lobos. He is the only player in conference history to average 20 points and six assists during league play.
He is complemented by first-team all-conference selection Nelly Junior Joseph, the Mountain West’s only player averaging a double-double this season.
San Jose State (15-18, 7-13 MW), the No. 8 seed, advanced to the quarterfinals by overcoming Wyoming 66-61 on Wednesday. Donavan Yap, Jr. led the Spartans with 19 points in the victory.
Donavan Yap led San Jose State with 19 points in a 66-61 win over Wyoming on Wednesday. This victory secured a spot in the Mountain West Tournament quarterfinals.
Photo Courtesy of San Jose State Athletics
As the No. 8 seed, the Spartans (15-18) prepare to face top-seeded New Mexico on Thursday.
Photo Courtesy of San Jose State Athletics
Yap additionally contributed five rebounds. Sadaidriene Hall scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting. This includes 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. He also had three steals.
Josh Uduje pitched in with 15 points, shooting 3-for-7 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
For Wyoming (12-20), Jordan Nesbitt topped the scoring with 16 points, along with nine rebounds and three steals. Obi Agbim added 12 points and two steals, while Cole Henry completed the game with 11 points.
Photo courtesy UNM Athletics
Yap played a crucial role in the second half, scoring 14 of his 19 points after the break.
New Mexico leads the all-time series 22-6, including victories in previous Mountain West Tournament meetings.
The teams split their regular-season matchups. The Lobos won 83-77 at The Pit in December. San Jose State narrowly claimed a 71-70 victory at home in January.
The winner will face either San Diego State or Boise State in Friday’s semifinals. The championship game will take place on Saturday afternoon in Las Vegas.