San Diego State is on a six-game winning streak heading into a home game against New Mexico on Saturday, but the Lobos are only a win away from breaking into the top two in the conference.
The Aztecs (12-4, 6-0 MWC) haven’t lost since a 65-48 setback at then-No. 1 Arizona on Dec. 20. They’re one of two teams that are undefeated in Mountain West play. The other is Utah State (15-1, 6-0), and San Diego State is 8-1 at home this season.
As usual, San Diego State boasts one of the best defenses in the Mountain West. It has held its past two opponents to less than 60 points and seven of its past eight have scored fewer than 70. The Aztecs are giving up an average of 71.8 points a game, which ranks No. 5 in the conference.
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San Diego State is led by a trio of guards: BJ Davis (11.8 points per game), Reese Dixon-Waters (11.2 PPG), and Miles Byrd (10 PPG). Seven-foot center Magoon Gwath, last season’s Mountain West Freshman of the Year, is putting up 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds a game.
New Mexico won the Mountain West regular-season title last year only to see its lineup decimated by the transfer portal, but that hasn’t slowed the Lobos down. They’re going into Saturday’s game on a four-game winning streak. They’ve won 11 of their past 12 games, and their only loss in that span was a 62-53 setback at Boise State.
Freshman Jake Hall leads the Lobos (14-3, 5-1 MWC) with 14.6 points a game. Utah State transfer Deyton Albury is adding 11.6 points a night, and 6-foot-9 freshman Tomislav Buljan is almost averaging a double-double, with 11.3 points and 9.5 rebounds a night.
New Mexico vs. San Diego State Betting Line
San Diego State is a 4.5-point college basketball betting odds favorite on BetMGM as of this writing, and the Over/Under is 147.5 points. The moneyline is at -200 for the Aztecs and +165 for New Mexico.
New Mexico vs. San Diego State On TV
The Mountain West game featuring New Mexico and San Diego State will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
New Mexico vs. San Diego State Prediction
I predict San Diego State wins 76-72.
Two of the top rebounders in the conference will do battle in this one. Gwath and Buljan are both physically imposing players under the basket, and whichever team gets the better of that matchup could win the game.
But San Diego State has what may be the most experienced backcourt in the Mountain West. Davis, Dixon-Waters, and Byrd have played a lot of basketball. That and the Aztecs’ signature stingy defense is going to make them tough to beat, no matter who they take the court against.
