The San Diego State Aztecs won the regular-season Mountain West Conference crown with their sights on much more. Just a year removed from a 30-2 mark that likely would’ve landed them a top seed in the Field of 68, the Aztecs are again in the Top 25 rankings. They lost four games all year and proved they belong after rattling off win after win heading into Las Vegas.
They escaped Wyoming by three in the quarterfinals and topped Nevada on Friday night to earn a fourth straight trip to the conference title game. Their opponent: Utah State, for the third year in a row. Not just that, but a Utah State team that beat the Aztecs twice in February- which so happened to be the last time they lost a game.
Also, a Utah State team that beat the Aztecs in the MWC title game a year ago, thanks to a Sam Merrill game-winner in a nailbiter.
One year ago today, Andrew Catalon and Steve Lappas called Sam Merrill's buzzer-beater in the Mountain West title game.
Today, Catalon and Lappas call Tramon Mark's buzzer-beater to lead Houston over Memphis.
Some things just make sense.pic.twitter.com/NCSuNPnOWm
— Heat Check CBB (@HeatCheckCBB) March 7, 2021
The two teams met again on Saturday night with one cutting down nets and one leaving Las Vegas without a title. However, this time went a little differently.
San Diego State Wins the Mountain West
It wasn’t easy, and that shouldn’t be a surprise. Utah State has one of the best players in all of college basketball in Neemis Queta. In fact, he was named MWC player of the year, although Aztecs star Matt Mitchell received the same award from the coaches.
The Aggies got the Aztecs twice this year, with Mitchell leaving the first game early with an injury and watching the second from the sidelines.
Fast forward to March, and the Aztecs were ready for this. San Diego State topped Utah State by a score of 68-57 and finally cut down the nets after two years of losing in the final game.
The Aztecs Finally got to Cut Down the Nets
Make no mistake, Queta was fantastic once again for Utah State, and that shouldn’t be a surprise. He finished with 18 points and six boards with three blocks on a 7-11 clip. Justin Bean, who has been the Aggies’ second best player, finished with 12 points and six boards.
For the Aztecs, Mitchell led the way with 14 points and four boards as Trey Pulliam had 10 points and three steals. Pulliam had been spectacular all tournament in Vegas, and Mitchell ended up winning tournament MVP.
Matt Mitchell has been named Mountain West Tournament MVP (after already winning Mountain West Player of the Year). pic.twitter.com/17DHU1NfGn
— Jon Schaeffer (@jonschaeffer) March 14, 2021
Jordan Schakel chipped in nine points on just eight shots and Terrell Gomez, the transfer from Cal State Northridge, finished with nine points as well.
However, the deciding factor might have been Nathan Mensah, who missed last year’s tournament with injuries. Mensah had 10 points with eight boards and a pair of blocks and Joshua Tomaic had six points and four boards as the Aztecs’ big men did their part with the tough task of guarding Queta.
Coach Brian Dutcher’s squad shot 44 percent from the field and had 10 steals. After the game, Dutcher said how proud he was of the program after losing just six games over the past two years.
Brian Dutcher on winning both the Mountain West regular season and tournament title this season and what it means to him. pic.twitter.com/MBF6fL3Fgx
— Jon Schaeffer (@jonschaeffer) March 14, 2021
Oh, and maybe the best thing was Dutcher’s trust fall after cutting down the final strand of the net in Las Vegas.
I’m here for the Brian Dutcher trust fall.
(h/t @ambersalass)
— Jon Schaeffer (@jonschaeffer) March 14, 2021
What’s Next for These teams?
For the Aztecs, they were already a lock to make the tournament. CBS’s Jerry Palm had them as a 9-seed before the MWC tournament and Joe Lunardi had them as a 7-seed. As far as how the Selection Committee values them remains to be seen. If the Aztecs can avoid an 8/9 seed (which they should), they would be ecstatic.
Nonetheless, this isn’t a team you want to play, especially now. The Aztecs won their 14th straight game with the MWC title on Saturday, and we all know how dangerous hot teams are in March.
As for Utah State, Lunardi had them as one of the Last Four In last night, and that’s probably where they end up. The Aggies’ crutch is an 8-loss season with a terrible loss to UNLV at the end of January. Flip the script a bit because they beat Boise State twice, the Aztecs twice, and Colorado State twice.
The bottom line is Utah State SHOULD be in, although nothing’s certain. Lunardi had the Aggies as one of the Last Four in his latest bracketology on Saturday night. That should bode well for Utah State as they wait for their name to be called.
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 14, 2021
Either way, the Mountain West once was pegged to have as many as four teams in the field. With a rough stretch to end the year, it appears it will be at best a two-team league.
For the Aztecs, they should be a scary team to face regardless of which seed or region they are in. Buckle up, March is here and it’s going to be madness.
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