LAS VEGAS — On short rest, San Diego State and UNLV were laboring, gasping for air and feeling the effects of tired legs and aching arms.
Kawhi Leonard would have none of it.
“I just came out with high energy,” San Diego State’s fantastic freshman said after leading the fourth-seeded Aztecs (25-8) to the Mountain West Conference title Saturday — and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with it.
Leonard scored 16 points, grabbed a career-best 21 rebounds and sank all eight of his free throws in the final two minutes as San Diego State fended off UNLV 55-45.
Third-seeded UNLV also improved its NCAA credentials during the week. The Runnin’ Rebels (25-8) hope to join San Diego State, No. 8 New Mexico and No. 14 BYU in the field that’s announced today.
“This is high-level basketball,” Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. “This is a really good league that has nine teams in it and four of us are going to go to the NCAA Tournament. That’s representing your league well.”
San Diego State upset New Mexico in the semifinals, the highest-ranked team the Aztecs have ever beaten away from home, and on Saturday sealed its fifth straight postseason berth — a first in the program’s 89-year history.
Leonard, who averaged 9.5 rebounds in the regular season, finished with 39 rebounds in 72 hours and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
