Aztecs Overpower Aggies 62-57 Winning 2023 Mountain West Championship
Despite trailing 26-15 in the first half, the Aztecs clawed back to take the lead and keep it while the Aggies fought to the very last second.
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The Aztecs manage to sweep the 22-23 Mountain West regular season title and the 2023 Tournament Championship.
Las Vegas, NV – San Diego State defeated Utah State 62-57 during Saturday’s 2023 Mountain West Tournament championship game. The Aztecs (27-6) claimed their seventh tournament title, and the second in three years. This was a record 15th appearance in the finals.
San Diego State takes the conference’s auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament, even though they are already secure as No. 6 seed. After winning the championship, don’t be surprised to see the Aztecs as a No. 5 seed or better.
Utah State (26-8) are probable to make the NCAA Tournament when the selections are announced Sunday, but they are on the edge.
In the last five years the Aztecs and Aggies have played one another in the Mountain West championship game. Utah State won the 2019 and 2020 title games, and San Diego State won the 2021 title. Boise State disrupted the exchange last season when they defeated the Aztecs 53-52.
Stifling defense made it difficult for both teams to score on Saturday. The Aztecs managed a mere 33% versus 37% for the Aggies. It would not be fair to blame this on sloppy play- but intensity.
Jaedon LeDee led the Aztecs with 15 points and Matt Bradley added 14 in the victory. For Utah State, Steven Ashworth scored 13 points and Trevin Dorius chipped in 12.
The Aggies went on a 12-2 run early in the first half to take a 26-15 lead with 6:57 left. Then, they cooled off and failed to make another field goal until nearly two minutes into the second half. Despite that glaring fact, the Aggies still led by one at the half, and didn’t trail until even later.
The Aztecs closed the gap as they went back and forth with the Aggies in the second half. San Diego State nearly locked up the game by going up 53-46 with 3 minutes left, but the Aggies rallied back to within three points at 48 seconds- and then just two points with 30 seconds to go. The Aggies then demanded referees place .3 seconds back on the clock, and they fought the Aztecs to the very last second.
San Diego State closed out the game at the charity stripe by making 9 of 10 free throws in the final 43 seconds, while the Aggies fouled them over and over on every inbound. With 1.8 seconds left, the Aggies even committed a technical foul by grabbing Adam Seiko behind the line on an inbound pass. Utah State was tenacious to the bitter end, even after the game was over.
The Aggies made just 4 of 24 3-point attempts against stifling Aztec defense.
Nine Aztecs played at least 16 minutes. All scored and rebounded.
WHAT’S NEXT
With a NET ranking of No. 18, the Aggies will probably be chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament.
San Diego State should be appointed to a No. 5 seed on Selection Sunday- if not better.
The Aztec Nation congratulates coach Brian Dutcher and the San Diego State Aztecs on winning both the 22-23 Mountain West Regular Season Title and the 2023 Mountain West Championship!