Aztecs Face Broncos in High-Stakes Mountain West Quarterfinal Showdown

SAN DIEGO, California — San Diego State University’s men’s basketball team, the fourth seed in the Mountain West Tournament, is set to take on the fifth-seeded Boise State Broncos in a pivotal quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, March 13, at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The game will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and is broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Both teams enter the contest with identical conference records of 14-6, although SDSU holds a slight edge in the overall series, leading 20-13. The Aztecs have swept the Broncos in the regular season, winning 76-68 in Boise on January 4 and 74-47 at home on February 15. Despite these victories, SDSU guards have acknowledged the challenge of facing Boise State for a third time.

“It’s a gauntlet,” said guard Miles Byrd. “You’re familiar with everybody you’re going to play against, and it’s not going to be any easy games come Thursday.”

San Diego State comes into the tournament with 17 consecutive wins in quarterfinal play, a streak that stretches back to 2007. The last time the Aztecs were defeated in a Mountain West quarterfinal was to Colorado State. Head coach Brian Dutcher noted the pressure that comes with tournament play.

“Every team you play is going to be really good,” Byrd said. “We didn’t have our best nights all the time, so we’re looking to prove something.”

Boise State, once viewed as a pre-season favorite, has rebounded from a mid-season slump. Despite ending the regular season tied for fourth place, the Broncos have shown resilience, securing significant victories against top-ranked teams.

“They’ll switch things up with a great coaching staff,” offered SDSU guard Nick Boyd, recognizing the physical challenge that Boise presents. “They have a talented team with [Tyson] Degenhart and [Alvaro] Cardenas, who have been very effective this year.”

Despite struggles in their previous matchups, the Broncos are looking to adjust their strategies in hopes of leveraging their physicality against SDSU’s defensive prowess. Notably, if Magoon Gwath is unavailable, the Aztecs will need to adapt, as he has been a vital asset for their defense.

“It changes things a lot,” Boyd stated. “Boise is a big, physical team, so we’ll need to man up against them.”

Looking ahead, the implications extend beyond this game, as both teams are on the NCAA Tournament bubble. While SDSU is viewed as among the last four in by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Boise State must secure a victory to enhance its postseason chances.

“We’re both fighting for our lives,” Boyd said, echoing the heightened urgency surrounding the upcoming matchup. “We know they’ll be motivated, just as we are.”

The anticipation builds as the Aztecs prepare for their third encounter with the Broncos. With both teams familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses, fans can expect a ferocious battle on the court.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center, and the winner will advance to the semifinals on Friday against either No. 1 New Mexico or No. 8 San Jose State.