Richard Pitino told his New Mexico Lobos exactly how to beat the San Diego State Aztecs last Saturday.
"Before the game we talked about not allowing points off turnovers and offensive rebounds," the Lobos coach told golobos.com.
The Lobos followed instructions perfectly, limiting the Aztecs to exactly one point off turnovers and one off offensive rebounds in a convincing 62-48 victory in front of 15,428 fans in Albuquerque.
New Mexico (14-3, 6-0), No. 2 in this week's Nevada Appeal Mountain West rankings, had nine points off turnovers and 14 off offensive rebounds for their seventh victory in a row. No. 4 San Diego State fell to 10-4, 3-2.
"It was just phenomenal," Pitino said. "We had to beat them at their own game."
New Mexico, which got 16 points, five assists and three steals from Donovan Dent, also took 19 more shots than the Aztecs, going 24-of-67 from the floor compared to 17-of-48 for San Diego State.
"They (the Aztecs) are so tough physically,' Pitino said. "Our guys did an amazing job of showing that toughness."
New Mexico beat the Aztecs despite making just 6-of-28 threes and 8-of-20 free throws. San Diego State was just 5-of-16 on threes and 9-of-17 from the line.
No. 1 Utah State outlasted No. 3 Boise State, 81-79, on a four-point play by Ian Martinez with seven seconds to play. Martinez leads the Mountain West in scoring at 19.1 points a game.
"That was as good a college basketball game as you'll find," Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun told utahstateaggies.com. "We just made one more play than them."
Boise State, which got 22 points from Tyson Degenhart, led 47-34 with just under 18 minutes to play. The Broncos made a school-record 14 3-pointers (26 attempts).
"They made 14 threes and we still beat them," said Calhoun, whose Aggies have won six games in a row to improve to 16-1, 6-0. Boise dropped to 12-5, 4-2.
A crowd of 10,270 in Logan, Utah saw Boise State lose for the 23rd time in 27 games at Utah State.
"We have an environment here that very few have," Calhoun said. "When kids come here they just play so much harder. That's what the magic is all about here in Logan."
Boise State coach Leon Rice said his team knew Martinez would likely take the game-deciding shot with seven seconds to play.
"We had an idea of what they were doing and where they were going to go," Rice told Bronco Nation News. "We just got there late."
Rice said the Utah State crowd was a huge factor in the game.
"This was the loudest I've ever heard this place and I've been here a lot of times," Rice said. "They (the fans) give them (the Aggies) great energy."
No. 5 Colorado State crushed No. 7 UNLV, 84-62, in front of a crowd of just 3,912 in Fort Collins, Colo. Nique Clifford had 22 points, seven assists, four steals and was 4-of-5 on threes for the Rams. Colorado State (10-6, 4-1) also whipped Fresno State, 91-64, last Tuesday in front of a home crowd of 3,095.
No. 6 Nevada ran away from No. 10 Fresno State in overtime, 77-66, on the road. Nick Davidson had 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and two blocks for Nevada, which ended a four-game losing streak.
The Wolf Pack (9-7, 1-4) will play No. 11 Air Force on Tuesday night (Jan. 14) and No. 9 San Jose State, both at home this week.
No. 7 UNLV (9-7, 3-2) got blown out twice last week, 81-59 by Boise State on Tuesday and 84-62 by Colorado State on Saturday, both on the road. The Rebels will host No. 1 Utah State on Wednesday and go to No. 4 San Diego State on Saturday.
No. 8 Wyoming (9-7, 2-3) lost at home to New Mexico, 61-53, last Tuesday after leading 32-18 at halftime. No. 9 San Jose State beat No. 11 Air Force, 69-62, in Colorado Springs on Saturday in front of a crowd of just 1,545. Will McClendon led the Spartans with 20 points and five threes.
"A good road win for the Spartans and we needed that," San Jose State coach Tim MIles said on sjsuspartans. com.
The Nevada Appeal Mountain West men's basketball rankings for the week of Jan. 13:
1. UTAH STATE (16-1, 6-0). Last week: Utah State 85, San Jose State 78 (Jan. 7); Utah State 81, Boise State 79 (Jan. 11). This week: Utah State at UNLV (Jan. 15).
2. NEW MEXICO (14-3, 6-0). Last week: New Mexico 61, Wyoming 53 (Jan. 7); New Mexico 62, San Diego State 48 (Jan. 11). This week: New Mexico at San Jose State (Jan. 14), Boise State at New Mexico (Jan. 17).
3. BOISE STATE (12-5, 4-2). Last week: Boise State 81, UNLV 59 (Jan. 7); Utah State 81, Boise State 79 (Jan. 11). This week: Wyoming at Boise State (Jan. 14), Boise State at New Mexico (Jan. 17).
4. SAN DIEGO STATE (10-4, 3-2). Last week: San Diego State 67, Air Force 38 (Jan. 8); New Mexico 62, San Diego State 48 (Jan. 11). This week: Colorado State at San Diego State (Jan. 14); UNLV at San Diego State (Jan. 18).
5. COLORADO STATE (10-6, 4-1). Last week: Colorado State 91, Fresno State 64 (Jan. 7); Colorado State 84, UNLV 62 (Jan. 11). This week: Colorado State at San Diego State (Jan. 14); Colorado State at Wyoming (Jan. 18).
6. NEVADA (9-7, 1-4). Last week: Nevada 77, Fresno State 66, OT (Jan. 11). This week: Air Force at Nevada (Jan. 14); San Jose State at Nevada (Jan. 18).
7. UNLV (9-7, 3-2). Last week: Boise State 81, UNLV 59 (Jan. 7); Colorado State 84, UNLV 62 (Jan. 11). This week: Utah State at UNLV (Jan. 15); UNLV at San Diego State (Jan. 18).
8. WYOMING (9-7, 2-3). Last week: New Mexico 61, Wyoming 53 (Jan. 7). This week: Wyoming at Boise State (Jan. 14); Colorado State at Wyoming (Jan. 18).
9. SAN JOSE STATE (8-10, 1-5). Last week: Utah State 85, San Jose State 78 (Jan. 7); San Jose State 69, Air Force 62 (Jan. 11). This week: New Mexico at San Jose State (Jan. 14); San Jose State at Nevada (Jan. 18).
10. FRESNO STATE (4-13, 0-6). Last week: Colorado State 91, Colorado State 64 (Jan. 7); Nevada 77, Fresno State 66, OT (Jan. 11). This week: Air Force at Fresno State (Jan. 17).
11. AIR FORCE (3-13, 0-5): Last week: San Diego State 67, Air force 38 (Jan. 8); San Jose State 69, Air Force 62 (Jan. 11). This week: Air Force at Nevada (Jan. 14); Air Force at Fresno State (Jan. 17).