LAS VEGAS — San Diego State could savor cutting down the Thomas & Mack Center nets for only so long Saturday.
There’s another tournament to be played this week.
The reverse could be said for Brigham Young. There’s no time to mope, because the 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket is announced today.
Seventh-ranked San Diego State paid back No. 8 BYU for two 13-point losses — the Aztecs’ only defeats this season — with a 72-54 rout of the Cougars in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game Saturday.
Billy White, a 6-foot-8 senior forward from Las Vegas, led the Aztecs with 21 points, 12 rebounds and five steals. Kawhi Leonard contributed 20 points and eight rebounds.
San Diego State (32-2) is tied with Kansas for the most wins in the country. It’s one more win than coach Steve Fisher had when he guided Michigan’s Fab Five to the 1993 NCAA championship game.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of anything,” Fisher said. “Our goal and our fans’ goal are ‘let’s win a game.’ I’ve had the privilege to go to three (NCAA Tournaments) at San Diego State. I haven’t won one yet.”
After scoring a school- and tournament-record 52 points against New Mexico on Friday, BYU senior guard Jimmer Fredette showed signs of fatigue Saturday. The nation’s leading scorer needed a late run to finish with 30 points, but he hit only 10-of-25 shots.
San Diego State rotated White, Leonard and Chase Tarpley on Fredette, the MWC Tournament’s MVP.
BYU (30-4) was ranked as high as third nationally before losing to New Mexico following the honor code suspension of starting center Brandon Davies two weeks ago. The Cougars, 3-2 since losing the 6-9 Davies, will still draw a strong NCAA seed. And the Cougars may be sent to Denver for a Thursday game.
“This will hurt for probably tonight,” said senior guard Jackson Emery, the only other BYU player in double figures with 11 points. “We wake up tomorrow, we go home, we get ready for NCAA selection.”
Fisher also acknowledged the elephant in the room all week. It was BYU’s final appearance in the MWC tourney. When the Cougars come to Vegas next year, it will be a week earlier with the West Coast Conference at a smaller venue.
“I’d like to congratulate Dave Rose and his BYU squad on a phenomenal season, seasons plural,” Fisher said. “I told Jackson and Jimmer it’s been a privilege to compete against them.”
