San Diego State Aztecs Fall Short in Mountain West Title Game

Aztecs' NCAA Tournament hopes now in hands of Selection Committee after 73-62 loss to Utah State

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:41am

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The San Diego State Aztecs fell short in their bid for the Mountain West Conference tournament championship, losing 73-62 to top-seeded Utah State on Saturday. The loss puts the Aztecs' postseason hopes in the hands of the NCAA Selection Committee, as they must now wait to see if their resume is strong enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

The Mountain West Conference has been strong this season, with seven teams recording 20 or more wins. However, the parity in the league may have hurt the Aztecs' chances, as coach Brian Dutcher noted that there wasn't enough separation between the top teams. The Aztecs' loss in the title game could jeopardize their chances of making the NCAA Tournament, which would be a disappointment for a team that has made the tournament three years in a row.

The details

The game was close throughout, with Utah State leading by just four points with about five minutes to play. However, a critical five-point possession for the Aggies, capped by a three-pointer from MJ Collins and two free throws from Zach Keller, pushed the lead to nine points and the Aggies were able to hold on from there.

  • The Mountain West Tournament championship game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Brian Dutcher

The head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team.

Reese Dixon-Waters

A player for the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team.

Miles Byrd

A player for the San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team.

MJ Collins

A player for the Utah State Aggies men's basketball team.

Zach Keller

A player for the Utah State Aggies men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“The Mountain West was undervalued this year. Seven teams with 20-plus wins, so the parity -- I've said it all year, the parity has hurt our league this year. That's what every league wants is parity. So if you're in a Power Four, the parity is fantastic. Get 18, 19 teams in. But in the Mountain West, parity is not a good thing. There wasn't enough separation between the top.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State Aztecs (si.com)

“Obviously the critical play of the game was the five-point play in a four-point game, and that was really a huge momentum turner, took the lead from four to nine in one possession. Then they just kind of held on to it from that point on.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State Aztecs (si.com)

“I lost MJ Collins going on the baseline and just happened to run into a screener, tried to cheat it, something I shouldn't have done, and whatever happened happened.”

— Reese Dixon-Waters, Player, San Diego State Aztecs (si.com)

“Leave that up to the committee. Hopefully.”

— Miles Byrd, Player, San Diego State Aztecs (si.com)

“Yeah, I mean, as players I don't think we've really got much say in that. Obviously been an Aztec for four years, been to the tournament three years in a row, so obviously we're hoping to hear our names tomorrow. If that doesn't happen, we'll probably meet as a team and figure out what the next step is. But we're focused on hopefully hearing our names tomorrow.”

— Miles Byrd, Player, San Diego State Aztecs (si.com)

What’s next

The San Diego State Aztecs must now wait for Selection Sunday to see if their resume is strong enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The San Diego State Aztecs' loss in the Mountain West Tournament championship game puts their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy, as the team must now wait anxiously to see if the Selection Committee deems their overall resume worthy of an at-large bid. The parity in the Mountain West Conference this season may have worked against the Aztecs, who have been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament in recent years.