Devin Watson scored 20 points to lead San Diego State to a 65-56 win over the No. 14 Nevada Wolf Pack in a Mountain West Conference tournament semifinal game on Friday at Las Vegas.
The fourth-seeded Aztecs (21-12) beat the top-seeded Wolf Pack (29-4) for the fourth time in the past five meetings and kept the Wolf Pack from a school-record 30th win.
The Aztecs will play second-seeded Utah State on Saturday for the Mountain West tournament championship, after the Aggies routed third-seeded Fresno State later Friday evening.
Nevada was without second-leading scorer and leading rebounder Jordan Caroline because an Achilles issue that flared up earlier in the day.
The Aztecs watched the Wolf Pack erase a 13-point, second-half deficit and take a 51-49 lead with 7:29 left in the game. But Nevada would go the next seven minutes without scoring and San Diego State would take control.
Jeremy Hemsley tied the game at 51-all and Nathan Mensah's layup put San Diego State up 53-51.
After Cody Martin was called for an offensive foul, Jalen McDaniels' jumper extended the lead to 55-51. McDaniels went to the free-throw line with 1:09 left and made one of two attempts.
Matt Mitchell's free throws with 30.8 clinched the win for the Aztecs.
McDaniels recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Cody Martin led the Wolf Pack with 16 points. Tre'Shawn Thurman helped offset the loss of Caroline, recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wolf Pack's leading scorer, Caleb Martin, picked up two fouls in the first 64 seconds of the game. He re-entered with 3:11 left in the half but was back on the bench 36 seconds later.
Caleb Martin, averaging 19.6 points per game, didn't score his first point until the 14:43 mark of the second half. His first field goal, a 3-point jumper from the top of the key, cut the Wolf Pack deficit to just 46-43. He finished with eight points.
--Field Level Media
San Diego St. | Nevada | |
Devin Watson 20 | Scoring | Cody Martin 16 |
Devin Watson 5 | Assists | Corey Henson 2 |
Jalen McDaniels 10 | Rebounds | Tre'Shawn Thurman 11 |
Devin Watson 6 | Free Throws Made | Trey Porter 4 |
Jalen McDaniels 2 | Steals | Corey Henson 1 |
Aguek Arop 1 | Blocks | Trey Porter 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
San Diego St. | 65 | 42.6 | 6-13 | 13-17 | 11 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
Nevada | 56 | 37.9 | 6-24 | 6-13 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 5 | 12 |