San Diego State holds up their trophy after beating UNLV 55-45 to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Saturday, March 13, 2010 | 7:39 p.m.
UNLV Falls Short of MWC Title
For the fifth time in the last six meetings, San Diego State knocks off UNLV, winning the Mountain West Conference Championship, 55-45.
So much for San Diego State nervously watching the NCAA Tournament selection show Sunday afternoon.
The Aztecs don’t have to worry about their post-season fate anymore, not after defeating UNLV 55-45 Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center to win the Mountain West Conference Tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"We are where we belong" Fisher said. "I thought we were going to get in yesterday, but now I know we're in."
San Diego State knows what it’s like to have uncertainty surrounding its future at the end of the season. After losing to Utah in last year’s Mountain West championship game, San Diego State was one of the final teams omitted from the 65-team field in the tournament.
The Aztecs set out to erase any possibility of sweating through that again at the beginning of this week’s Mountain West tournament. Freshman Kawhi Leonard played a major role in accomplishing that.
Leonard scored 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in the victory over UNLV to snag the tournament’s most valuable player award.
“I just came out wanting to win,” Leonard said. “I crashed every board and tried to do all that I could.”
But what pleased Fisher was the team effort the Aztecs used to clinch their first conference tournament title since 2006.
Las Vegas’ own Billy White, who attended Green Valley High, scored 28 points in the semifinal game against New Mexico. He scored seven points in the championship game.
“It means a lot to me,” White said. “I’ve never won anything like this ever in my life.”
White made what turned out to be two of the biggest shots of the game. With eight minutes remaining, the Rebels took a 40-39 lead and looked to finish strong and capture their third conference title in the last four years.
White couldn’t let that happen. He dropped in jumpers during both of the Aztecs next two possessions to make the score 43-40.
After the Rebels failed to answer on the other end of the court, San Diego State’s D.J. Gay lofted a deep 3-pointer and it fell in.
Gay’s long three gave the Aztecs a 46-40 advantage, and the Rebels never got within one possession from there.
“Coach Fisher pulled me aside in a timeout and said, ‘DJ, I need you to hit a three for me. I need you to carry us to victory,’” Gay said. “And the play was made. I saw an opening and hit the shot.”
The Aztecs enjoyed a prolonged celebration after the victory. The team gathered at midcourt and their fans stormed the floor to enjoy the moment with them.
The players and Fisher also took their time cutting down the Thomas & Mack Center’s nets.
And why not? As the No. 4 seed, they were not expected to storm through the field in Las Vegas and capture the title.
They struggled to get past Colorado State in the first round, squeaking out a 72-71 victory. New Mexico, the No. 1 seed, waited in the semifinals and San Diego State snapped its 15-game winning streak with a 72-69 win.
UNLV was the last test standing between San Diego State and a stress-free Sunday.
The Aztecs passed. Welcome to the NCAA Tournament.
“I can finally take a deep breath,” Gay said. “This is something I’ve been waiting for.”
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