Boise State Surges Past San Diego State in Mountain West Quarterfinals

LAS VEGAS — Boise State clinched a spot in the Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinals with a solid 62-52 victory over San Diego State on Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Senior guard Alvaro Cardenas led the Broncos with 16 points, propelling the fifth-seeded team to upset the fourth-seeded Aztecs.

Despite trailing by five at halftime, Boise State (23-9) outscored San Diego State (21-9) 34-19 in the second half, marking their first semifinal appearance since 2022. The Broncos will face top-seeded New Mexico in the next round.

After a competitive first half, which concluded with San Diego State ahead 33-28, the Broncos adjusted their game plan. Cardenas, who finished 4 of 13 from three-point range, was pivotal in breaking the Aztecs’ defense, scoring eight points in the first half and contributing key baskets in the latter period.

Senior forward Tyson Degenhart added 14 points and seven rebounds, continuing to chase the all-time scoring record at Boise State. Degenhart entered the contest needing 32 points to surpass Tanoka Beard’s longstanding record of 1,944 points.

San Diego State, which previously enjoyed a 17-game winning streak in Mountain West tournament quarterfinals, struggled with offensive execution, scoring only 19 points in the second half and finishing the game with issues on the boards. The Aztecs were out-rebounded 40-28 and managed only three second-chance points compared to Boise State’s 18.

“We didn’t perform well on the boards,” said SDSU head coach Brian Dutcher. “Those second-chance opportunities were the difference in the game.”

Nick Boyd was a bright spot for the Aztecs, leading his team with 20 points. However, his performance was not enough to overcome the Broncos’ late-game surge.

The pivotal moments came in the second half, as Boise State quickly regained the lead after being down. Degenhart’s three-pointer gave the Broncos a crucial 52-49 edge with less than four minutes remaining, a comfortable lead that they maintained until the final buzzer.

“Our mindset was to take open shots whenever possible,” said Cardenas. “Our team has confidence in each other to keep shooting, even after setbacks.”

Boise’s strategy to focus on three-point shooting paid dividends, as they finished with a final tally of 16 successful three-pointers. The Broncos’ aggressive defense, coupled with their offensive adaptability, ultimately overwhelmed the Aztecs.

Additionally, the game marked a notable absence for the Aztecs, as their standout freshman Magoon Gwath remained sidelined due to injury. His absence was felt as the team’s interior presence struggled throughout the match.

The loss leaves the Aztecs in a precarious position heading into the NCAA Tournament selection. While they boast a strong resume, they must now wait anxiously for Selection Sunday to learn their fate.

“It’s going to be tough waiting and watching these games,” Boyd said. “We know we are better than what we showed today.”