UNM Lobos Storm to MW Semis with 93-77 OT Thriller Over SJSU

LAS VEGAS — The University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team delivered a dominant 93-77 victory over the San Jose State Spartans in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. The No. 3-seeded Lobos, riding a wave of momentum from a strong regular season, overcame early challenges to pull away in overtime, securing their spot in Friday's semifinals. A raucous contingent of Albuquerque supporters turned the Las Vegas arena into a sea of cherry and silver, amplifying the electric atmosphere as UNM improved to 23-9.

Key contributions fueled the Lobos' advance: guards Jaelen House and Donovan Dent combined for 42 points, with House's clutch overtime shooting sealing the deal against the No. 11 Spartans. The win was crucial, not just for tournament progression but for bolstering UNM's NCAA Tournament resume after a rollercoaster Mountain West campaign at The Pit in Albuquerque. Lobo coach Richard Pitino praised the team's resilience postgame, noting the crowd's energy as a 'game-changer.'

Awaiting UNM in the semifinals is the No. 2-seeded San Diego State Aztecs, tipped off Friday at 10 p.m. MT — a rematch of heated rivalry games that have defined recent conference play. Despite the Lobos' eventual 64-62 semifinal loss to SDSU the following night, ending their title hopes at 23-10, the quarterfinal triumph showcased New Mexico's grit. The run highlighted the program's resurgence, setting the stage for an NIT first-round rout of Sam Houston 107-83 back at The Pit.