Aztecs Defeat Rebels in Offensive Thriller, 89-86

San Diego State clinches second place in Mountain West Conference with season-ending win over UNLV

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In a high-scoring affair, the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the UNLV Running Rebels 89-86 in the Mountain West Conference season finale. The Aztecs were led by BJ Davis' career-high 30 points, while UNLV's Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 32. The game featured multiple lead changes as both teams shot the ball extremely well, with the Aztecs finishing at 55% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

Why it matters

The win secures a second-place finish in the Mountain West for the Aztecs, who will now have a first-round bye in the conference tournament. This positions them well for a potential NCAA Tournament bid, as they look to build on their strong regular season performance against an increasingly competitive Mountain West landscape.

The details

The Rebels jumped out to an early 19-11 lead, but the Aztecs responded with an 11-0 run to take a 22-19 advantage. The two teams traded leads for much of the game, with the Aztecs ultimately prevailing down the stretch. BJ Davis hit two crucial free throws late, and Reece Dixon-Waters added a free throw to give the Aztecs a three-point cushion. UNLV's final three-point attempt was blocked by Davis to seal the victory for San Diego State.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 8, 2026.
  • The Aztecs finished the regular season with a 20-10 overall record and a 14-6 mark in Mountain West play.

The players

BJ Davis

The Aztecs' star guard scored a career-high 30 points in the victory, making key plays down the stretch to lead his team to the win.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

The UNLV guard continued his impressive scoring season, pouring in 32 points for the Rebels in the losing effort.

Reece Dixon-Waters

The Aztecs' forward added 19 points and 6 rebounds to support Davis' big game.

Tyrin Jones

The UNLV freshman forward came off the bench to score 22 points for the Rebels.

Brian Dutcher

The Aztecs' head coach praised his team's performance, calling it "a great college basketball game."

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What they’re saying

“BJ was incredible. He made big, important shots, he attacked the basket, he made important plays. He's a player that when he plays like that, he makes us all look good...He knew he was rolling and wanted to shoot it every time he caught it, and I was fine with that.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State Aztecs (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The Aztecs will have a first-round bye in the Mountain West Conference tournament, where they will face the winner of the Fresno State/Colorado State game.

The takeaway

The Aztecs' offensive firepower and resilience in the face of UNLV's strong start showcased their potential as a team to watch in the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament. Their ability to win a high-scoring affair against a conference rival bodes well for their chances of securing an NCAA Tournament bid.