New Mexico fends off San Diego State 68-61 for MWC title, automatic berth in NCAA Tournament

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New Mexico forward Mustapha Amzil (22) shoots between San Diego State forward Elijah Saunders (25) and guard Reese Waters (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against New Mexico at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino calls to players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against San Diego State at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico guard Jaelen House (10) heads upcourt after picking off a pass intended for San Diego State guard Lamont Butler, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico guard Jaelen House (10) shoots a layup ahead of San Diego State guard Miles Byrd, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher applauds after a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against New Mexico at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico center Nelly Junior Joseph (23) goes to the basket ahead of San Diego State forward Jay Pal (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico guard Jaelen House (10) shoots a layup between San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) and forward Jay Pal (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) looks to shoot over New Mexico center Nelly Junior Joseph (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico players celebrate after defeating San Diego State in an an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, center left, prepares to present the trophy at center. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino celebrates with the net after his team defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico players celebrate after defeating San Diego State in an an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. New Mexico guards Jaelen House, center left, and Tru Washington, center right, dance in front of the trophy. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico guard Jaelen House, left, holds up his MVP trophy after his team defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico guard Jaelen House, center, holds up his MVP trophy after his team defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

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New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino, center right, holds up the trophy as he and his players celebrate after their win over San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball championship game at the Mountain West Conference tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jaelen House had 28 points, Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 21 and JT Toppin posted a double-double to propel sixth-seeded New Mexico to a 68-61 victory over No. 5 seed San Diego State in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center, earning the Lobos an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

New Mexico (26-9) had already made history by becoming the first team in the conference to win three games to reach the final. The Lobos won all three games by double digits and trailed for a total of 42 seconds. They were on the short end for just 6:38 against the Aztecs.

House had 15 points and Mashburn scored 13 to lead New Mexico to a 36-30 advantage at halftime. The Lobos led by as many as 14 and never trailed before intermission. Jaedon Ledee had a three-point play and scored five to spark a 10-2 run to close out the half for San Diego State (24-10).

New Mexico stayed in front in the second half until Reese Waters followed a three-point play with a 3-pointer to give the Aztecs a 44-43 lead with 12:12 remaining. The lead changed hands six times until Ledee made four straight free throws to put the Lobos up 54-51 with eight minutes left.

UConn guard Cam Spencer (12) and teammates celebrate during the final minutes of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Marquette for the championship of the Big East men's tournament Saturday, March 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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San Diego State took a 59-57 lead on two Ledee foul shots before House hit a pair to tie it. Toppin had a rebound basket for the lead and a layup and House added a three-point play in a victory-clinching 8-0 spurt and New Mexico led 67-59 with 36 seconds left.

House made 10 of 22 shots with three 3-pointers for the Lobos, adding five rebounds and three steals. Mashburn hit 6 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers. Toppin totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Ledee finished with 25 points — going 11 for 11 at the free-throw line — for the Aztecs. Ledee sank 7 of 12 shots, while his teammates made just 13 of 44.

New Mexico won the tournament for the first time since it made its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014. It will be the school’s 16th appearance in the event.

San Diego State, last season’s national runners-up to UConn, upset top-seeded and 18th-ranked Utah State to reach the final.

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