San Diego State vs. New Mexico score: Lobos shock Aztecs, cap wild run with Mountain West Tournament title

Championship: New Mexico 68, San Diego State 61

No. 6 seed New Mexico earned the automatic bid from the Mountain West with a 68-61 win over No. 5 seed San Diego State in the conference title game on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Lobos won four games in four days to win their first conference tournament title since 2014.

New Mexico guard Jaelen House scored a game-high 28 points and Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 21. San Diego State was a No. 6 seed by CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm coming into the day. Both teams will await their respective draw during the Selection Sunday on CBS.

Semifinals: San Diego State 86, Utah State 70

What a comeback for the 5-seed Aztecs, who at one point trailed by 17 points in the first half but eventually built a 13-point lead in the waning minutes of the game. The Mountain West has been arguably the best non-Big Six conference in college hoops this year, so neither the Aggies nor the Aztecs have to sweat it out ahead of selection Sunday. San Diego State will play the winner of Colorado State and New Mexico in the Mountain West title game on Saturday. 

Quarterfinals: Colorado State 85, Nevada 78

No. 7 seed Colorado State delivered the first upset of the day in the Mountain West Conference Tournament with a 85-78 win over No. 2 seed Nevada on Thursday. The Rams are one of six teams projected in the NCAA Tournament by CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm.

Colorado State guard Jalen Lake scored a team-high 16 points, and Isaiah Stevens added 15. Nevada will await its seeding on Selection Sunday. The Wolf Pack are projected as a No. 6 seed by Palm. 

Quarterfinals: San Diego State 74, UNLV 71 (OT)

No. 5 seed San Diego State defeated No. 4 seed UNLV 74-71 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. SDSU star Jaedon LeDee converted a floater with 14 seconds remaining in overtime and knocked down two free throws after UNLV guard Dedan Thomas Jr. missed what would've been the go-ahead layup on the other end.

LeDee scored a team-high 34 points and added 16 rebounds in the win. The Aztecs will face top-seeded Utah State in the semifinals on Friday.

UNLV's loss likely ends its chances of reaching the NCAA Tournament, as the Rebels needed to win the conference tournament to steal a bid. Thomas missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into double-overtime.

Quarterfinals: Utah State 87, Fresno State 75 (OT)

It took overtime, but No. 1 seed Utah State took down No. 9 seed Fresno State in an 87-75 win. The Aggies await the winner of No. 5 seed San Diego State and No. 4 seed UNLV in the tournament semifinals on Friday in Las Vegas.

Utah State star Great Osobor scored a game-high 29 points and added 17 rebounds. Fresno State ends the season with a 12-21 record and will head into the offseason with questions looming around the program. Fresno State coach Justin Hutson just wrapped up his sixth season at the school and with his contract set to expire next month.

First round: New Mexico 82, Air Force 56

No. 6 seed New Mexico concluded Day 1 of the Mountain West Conference Tournament with an 82-56 statement win over No. 11 seed Air Force. The Lobos are listed as one of the "Last Four In" in CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm's latest projections.

The New Mexico star JT Toppin scored a team-high 18 points, and Jaelen House scored all 16 points -- all before halftime -- in the win. The Lobos have a date with No. 3 seed Boise State in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Air Force ends its season with a 9-22 record — just one game shy of the worst mark in the Mountain West behind San Jose State. 

First round: Colorado State 72, San Jose State 62

Colorado State defeated San Jose State 72-62 in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament Wednesday. The Rams held off a late surge from the Spartans to advance to the quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Nevada on Thursday.

Joel Scott scored a team-high 18 points and Isaiah Stevens added 11 points and 10 assists for Colorado State. The Rams came into the day on the No. 8 line in CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm's latest projections. San Jose State concludes its season with a 9-23 record.

First round: Fresno State 77, Wyoming 73

No. 9 Fresno State rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to stun No. 8 seed Wyoming 77-73 in the first game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament Wednesday. Fresno State guard Leo Colimerio converted the go-ahead layup with 16 seconds left, and the Bulldogs forced a turnover on the other end to seal the win.

Fresno State lost to this same Wyoming team four days prior at home, 86-47. Now, they will face Mountain West regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Utah State on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Wyoming ends the season with a 15-17 record.

Expert picks for the Mountain West Conference Tournament

The Mountain West Conference Tournament kicks off Wednesday with No. 9 seed Fresno State playing No. 8 seed Wyoming. Colorado State and New Mexico — both projected to reach the NCAA Tournament by CBS Sports Bracketology Expert Jerry Palm — will play later in the day against No. 10 seed San Jose State and No. 11 seed Air Force, respectively.

Check out our full breakdowns for each major college basketball conference tournament complete with CBS Sports expert picks below. 

March Madness 2024: College basketball conference tournament predictions, picks, odds, sleepers

Cameron Salerno