San Diego State Aztecs host New Mexico at Viejas
Game: New Mexico Lobos vs San Diego Aztecs
Date: Tuesday 25, 9:00 p.m. MST
Location: San Diego
Venue: Viejas Arena
Radio: Lobo Sports Network, Rob Portnoy/Hunter Green
TV: Fox Sports 1
THE SERIES: UNM Lobos lead 52-45
New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State Aztecs Preview
Photo courtesy UNM Athletics
New Mexico Lobos (22-5, 14-2 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (18-7, 11-5 MWC)
Preview: New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State Aztecs
The Mountain West-leading New Mexico men’s basketball team heads to California this week for a Wednesday night showdown with the Aztecs from San Diego State.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 pm MT (8:00 pm PT) at Viejas Arena, with the game broadcast on FS1 and the Lobo Radio Network.
New Mexico (22-5, 14-2 MW) sits atop the Mountain West standings and aims to match the school’s record for conference victories in a season, a feat last accomplished in 2013-14 when the Lobos finished 15-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
The team is looking to bounce back after an 86-78 defeat at Boise State last week, which snapped an impressive eight-game winning streak.
Donovan Dent leads the conference in scoring, averaging 19.6 points per game, and is the only player in the nation to average over 19 points and six assists per game.
San Diego State (18-20, 11-5 MW) enters the contest following a 79-71 loss at Utah State on Saturday night.
Photo Courtesy of cbs8.com sports
The Aztecs boast a solid 10-3 home record this season, including victories in their last four home games.
Nick Boyd and Miles Byrd are key contributors for SDSU, averaging 12.8 and 12.7 points per game, respectively.
Photo Courtesy Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Historically, New Mexico leads the all-time series 52-45. However, San Diego State holds the advantage in games played in San Diego, with a 29-14 record, including a 16-8 mark at Viejas Arena.
The Lobos have prevailed in the last two meetings between the teams, winning 62-48 in this season’s first encounter at The Pit on January 11 and capturing last year’s Mountain West Tournament final over the Aztecs.
Top Performers
For the Aztecs, Miles Byrd has been a consistent perimeter threat, shooting 31.7% from three and averaging 12.7 points with two steals per game.
Photo Courtesy Creator: Gregory Bull | Credit: AP
Nicholas Boyd has also stepped up recently, averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 assists over his last 10 games.
Donovan Dent continues his Mountain West Player of the Year-worthy season, establishing himself as the conference’s top offensive threat.
He is not just not one of the best gaurds in the Mountain West Conference but in the NCAA proven against some very stiff this year.
The junior averages 19.6 points on 49.0% shooting and ranks 10th nationally with 6.5 assists per game.
In the first meeting against SDSU, he posted 16 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
On the season, he also contributes 1.6 steals per game. Over the last 10 contests, Nelly Junior Joseph has been a force inside, posting 15.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Photo courtesy UNM Athletics
Recent Performance
The Aztecs have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, averaging 69.8 points while holding opponents to 65.1.
They’ve also grabbed 31.1 rebounds per game, shooting 44.9% from the field.
Meanwhile, the Lobos have been even hotter, winning 8 of their last 10 while averaging 81.2 points on 47.9% shooting.
The last time the Lobos lost on a last-second shocker against San Jose State, they went on an 8-game run, so look for the Lobos after a week of rest to return to their winning ways.
They’ve also dominated the boards with 36.1 rebounds per game while limiting opponents to 68.9 points.
Photo Courtesy Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Lobos Looking to Bounce Back
New Mexico recently picked up a solid home win over Utah State but struggled on the road against Boise State.
The Lobos were without Mustapha Amzil who has been struggling with planter facitus will be a game time decision.
With the conference standings tightening up, every win is crucial. Boise State, Colorado State, and San Diego State will likely battle for the 3-5 seeds, with the No. 3 spot being key for favorable tournament matchups.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
At 22-5 overall and 14-2 in the conference, New Mexico isn’t guaranteed the regular-season title but holds the tiebreaker over Utah State. After facing SDSU, they’ll close the season against Air Force, Nevada, and UNLV. The Lobos still control their destiny.
This will be the game where the Lobos can make a huge statement that they are still the team to beat this season in the Mountain West Conference.
Mustapha Amzil, averaging 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds, remains questionable with a foot injury.
He played just 17 minutes against Wyoming on February 12 and hasn’t suited up since.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Donovan Dent continues to lead the charge for New Mexico, establishing himself as the conference’s top offensive player.
He ranks 10th nationally with 6.5 assists per game and contributes 1.6 steals per contest.
Against SDSU earlier this season, he finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
Donovan Dent and Nelly Jr Joseph had average games so thats something to really watch, if they have a typical solid game, it will spell trouble for the Aztecs.
Joseph remains key in the paint, averaging 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 55.4% from the field.
The Aztecs held him to just six points in their previous matchup, but with Gwath sidelined, he could be in for a big night.
Lobos Still Heavy Favorites
Boise snapped New Mexico’s eight-game winning streak. Still, they remain strong favorites to win the Mountain West regular-season title.
The Lobos hold a one-game lead over Utah State with four games left, and oddsmakers still have them as the clear favorite (-900) to claim the crown.
Photo Courtesy Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Mountain West Title Odds:
- New Mexico: -900
- Utah State: +700
- San Diego State: +3500
- Colorado State: +13000
- Boise State: +20000
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
Final Stretch
The Lobos face a critical road test against SDSU before finishing the season with a favorable schedule: home vs. Air Force, at Nevada, and home vs. UNLV.
On the other hand, Utah State has a more challenging road ahead, with matchups against SDSU, Boise State, and Colorado State before closing against Air Force.
MWC Title Race History
New Mexico aims for its first regular-season Mountain West title since 2012-13, while Utah State looks to defend its crown.
That historic Lobos team, led by then-head coach Steve Alford, finished 29-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play, claiming both the regular-season and tournament championships.
They secured an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Tournament by defeating UNLV in the Mountain West title game.
Whether history will repeat itself remains to be seen. Still, this year’s Lobos have undoubtedly positioned themselves well for a championship run and a strong postseason showing.
Photo Courtesy of UNM Athletics
The Lobos won last year’s MWC Tournament to secure one of the conference’s record six NCAA Tournament bids.
What head coach Richard Pitino and his entire staff have done over the last few years has undoubtedly reignited the passionate Lobo fan base. Impressive, to say the least.
Boise State, the preseason favorite, has struggled against top-tier MWC competition, going just 1-5 against the league’s best teams.
However, the Broncos have won two regular-season titles (2014-15, 2021-22) and captured the 2022 MWC Tournament championship under Leon Rice.
With the season winding down, every game carries weight. Tuesday night’s clash between the Lobos and Aztecs could be a defining moment in the Mountain West title race.
The Aztecs know that securing a win against this high-powered, well-rested Lobo squad will require another elite defensive effort—just as they did in holding Boise State to 47 points.
In their first meeting with Richard Pitino’s team, Nelly Junior Joseph and Donovan Dent didn’t perform at their best so it will interesting to see them play against the Aztecs in Viejas.
However, if the Lobos find their rhythm and play at the level they have against even stronger competition this season, it could be a long night for San Diego State.
Dent, a Riverside, California native, has consistently stepped up in front of his family, and there’s no reason to expect anything different this time.
His playmaking should open things up for Nelly, who will benefit from Dent’s ability to create opportunities.
This rivalry game between the UNM Lobos vs the San Diego State Aztecs is one of the best games of the year for a Mountain West Conference basketball fan.
With a deeper bench and the talent to go on another dominant run, the Lobos are in prime position to secure another statement win.