New Mexico fends off San Diego State 68-61 for MWC title, automatic berth in NCAA Tournament

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jaelen House had 28 points, Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 21 and JT Toppin posted a double-double to propel sixth-seeded New Mexico to a 68-61 victory over No. 5 seed San Diego State in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center, earning the Lobos an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

New Mexico (26-9) had already made history by becoming the first team in the conference to win three games to reach the final. The Lobos won all three games by double digits and trailed for a total of 42 seconds. They were on the short end for just 6:38 against the Aztecs.

House had 15 points and Mashburn scored 13 to lead New Mexico to a 36-30 advantage at halftime. The Lobos led by as many as 14 and never trailed before intermission. Jaedon Ledee had a three-point play and scored five to spark a 10-2 run to close out the half for San Diego State (24-10).

New Mexico stayed in front in the second half until Reese Waters followed a three-point play with a 3-pointer to give the Aztecs a 44-43 lead with 12:12 remaining. The lead changed hands six times until Ledee made four straight free throws to put the Lobos up 54-51 with eight minutes left.

San Diego State took a 59-57 lead on two Ledee foul shots before House hit a pair to tie it. Toppin had a rebound basket for the lead and a layup and House added a three-point play in a victory-clinching 8-0 spurt and New Mexico led 67-59 with 36 seconds left.

House made 10 of 22 shots with three 3-pointers for the Lobos, adding five rebounds and three steals. Mashburn hit 6 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers. Toppin totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Ledee finished with 25 points — going 11 for 11 at the free-throw line — for the Aztecs. Ledee sank 7 of 12 shots, while his teammates made just 13 of 44.

New Mexico won the tournament for the first time since it made its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. It will be the school’s 16th appearance in the event.

San Diego State, last season’s national runners-up to UConn, upset top-seeded and 18th-ranked Utah State to reach the final.

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