For the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team, that is a quarterfinal matchup against the San Diego Aztecs in the Mountain West tournament. And for Boise State, a game in which a positive result takes on even greater significance.
Win and advance, sure. More importantly, a victory brings the Broncos one step closer to getting back to the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season. A destination Boise State (22-9) is on the verge of missing without at least one win in the Mountain West tourney.
Predicted in the preseason to win the Mountain West, the Broncos finished a disappointing fifth. Bad news indeed, with all six conference losses coming to teams who finished higher than them in the standings. Two conference losses on the road, however, came on last-second shots. And, despite a loss to Colorado State to close the regular season, Boise State won 9 of their last 11 games, with wins against New Mexico and Utah State among them.
The Broncos are certainly playing better basketball the last five weeks but open the tournament against a team they failed to defeat in the regular season.
Boise State vs San Diego State season series
In recent seasons, the Broncos had San Diego State's number, winning six of seven against the Aztecs. In 2024-25, however, it was San Diego State (21-8) that had the advantage.
The Aztecs won the first meeting 76-68 behind 22 points from Miles Byrd and 13 from Taj DeGourville. A close game throughout, San Diego State finished with a rebound advantage of 10 and forced 13 Bronco turnovers.
Boise State was led in that game by two players currently not playing as many minutes. Chris Lockett Jr. had a team-high 16 points and Julian Bowie scored 10.
Andrew Meadow scored 14 and Tyson Degenhart only scored nine on 1 of 7 shooting. The Broncos shot only 7 for 30 on three-point attempts.
Degenhart was much better in round two, scoring 17 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Trouble was, Degenhart did not have much help, and the Broncos fell 64-47.
Boise State won the turnover and rebound battle, one better in each. Tough shooting did the Broncos in, knocking down only 3 of 18 from deep and 33.3 percent overall.
Nick Boyd scored 24 (hitting on 10 of 14) to lead the Aztecs, with Byrd adding 10.
Two freshmen will play extra importance in the third meeting this season. Magoon Gwath was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player and Freshman of the Year. Gwath played in both meetings against the Broncos, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, six blocked shots, and seven turnovers in the second game.
Gwath missed the last four games with ankle and thumb injuries but signs point to him returning in the Mountain West tournament.
For Boise State, freshman Pearson Carmichael did not play in the first meeting with the Aztecs but appeared in 16 games since, starting the last six.
Boise State stat leaders
Degenhart did not win conference player of the year (a well-deserved nod to New Mexico's Donovan Dent) but was named to the Mountain West first-team for the third straight year. The senior averaged 17.8 points and 6.1 rebounds, both of which led the Broncos. Degenhart shot 51.7 percent from the field and currently sits in fourth place on the school's career scoring list.
Meadow was second on the team in scoring at 12.6 per game, leading the team with 49 made three-pointers. Meadow averages 4.4 rebounds per game and has been on a scorcher in the last five games, averaging 19.8 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Point guard Alvaro Cardenas was named to the all-conference second team. The senior scores 12 per game and dishes out 7.5 assists. Cardenas had four games with 10+ assists during the season and committed only four turnovers in the last four games.
Javan Buchanan landed an accolade, too, when named conference Sixth Man of the Year. Buchanan averages 9.7 points per game, shooting 52.8 percent from the field.
A key factor will be the play of O'Mar Stanley. Stanley had his struggles this season but played much better in the last four games. The senior averages 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds. In the games against the Aztecs this season, Stanley finished with eight points, seven rebounds, seven fouls, and four turnovers.
Mountain West: Opening round matchups
Action tips-off Wednesday (3/12) with no. 8 seed San Jose State (14-18) taking on no. 9 seed Wyoming (12-19). The Spartans swept the season series from the Cowboys, winning each game by nine points. San Jose State enters the tournament with a 2-2 record in their last four games.
Wyoming has lost 9 of 10, with their best conference win a 63-61 victory over UNLV.
The Nevada Wolf Pack (16-15) come in as the no. 7 seed having lost five of six. Nevada takes on the no. 10 seed Fresno State (6-25), who lost to the Wolf Pack twice, by an average of 18 points. Fresno State's two conference wins came against Air Force (by nine points) and a 62-58 win over Wyoming in the regular season's second-to-last game.
The final first round matchup pits no. 6 seed UNLV (17-14) against no. 11 seed Air Force (4-27). The Runnin' Rebels have won three of four and knocked off Air Force twice this season, winning by an average of 26.5 points. Air Force won their only conference game this season by three points over Fresno State.
Thursday's games open with top-seed New Mexico (25-6) playing the winner of San Jose State and Wyoming. Tipping off after is the Boise State - San Diego State game, scheduled to start at 3:30 (MT).
The day's final games will see no. 2 seed Colorado State against the winner of Nevada/Fresno State. The final quarterfinal game will see no. 3 seed Utah State take the court against UNLV or Air Force.
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