San Diego State loses at New Mexico, dealing blow to MW title and NCAA Tournament hopes

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The San Diego State Aztecs arrived at The Pit in Albuquerque on Saturday with a chance to take control of the Mountain West title race, but they blew an 11-point first-half lead and lost 81-76 to the New Mexico Lobos in the final regular-season meeting between the teams. The loss likely cost the Aztecs a chance at the MW regular-season title and severely damaged their already slim hopes of an at-large NCAA Tournament berth.

Why it matters

The Aztecs came into the game tied for first place in the Mountain West, but the loss drops them into a tie for second with the Lobos. With just one game remaining in the regular season, SDSU will almost certainly need to win the conference tournament to secure an NCAA Tournament bid.

The details

The Aztecs led by 11 points in the first half, but the Lobos used runs of 6-0 and 7-0 to pull within one at halftime. The game came down to the final minute, with the Lobos hitting key shots late to secure the victory. SDSU was outrebounded 42-36 and the Lobos had a big advantage at the free throw line, going 25-of-36 compared to just 13-of-22 for the Aztecs.

• The Aztecs and Lobos met for the final regular-season matchup between the teams on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
• SDSU led by 11 points in the first half before the Lobos rallied to take a 37-36 lead at halftime.

What’s next

The Aztecs will travel to Boise State for their final regular-season game on Tuesday, March 3rd, looking to secure a higher seed in the Mountain West Tournament.