Lobos Advance in Mountain West Tournament, Defeat Spartans 93-77
Las Vegas, NV – The No. 3 Modern Mexico Lobos defeated the No. 11 San Jose State Spartans 93-77 in the quarterfinal of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 13, 2026, at the Thomas &. Mack Center in Las Vegas. The win propels New Mexico into the tournament semifinals, setting up a rematch of the 2024 final.
Spartans’ Tournament Run Ends
San Jose State entered the tournament as an 11 seed but upset Boise State in the first round. Despite a strong showing from Colby Garland, who led the Spartans with 20 points and seven assists, and Jermaine Washington Jr., who added 11 points, San Jose State ultimately ran out of steam against the Lobos.
Buljan Leads Lobos to Victory
Freshman forward Tomislav Buljan led all scorers with 25 points and 14 rebounds, shooting an impressive 10-of-11 from the field (90.9%). The Lobos dominated the paint, outscoring the Spartans 56-24. Jake Hall added 25 points for New Mexico.
Key Stats
- New Mexico: 58% field goal percentage (38-65), 38% from three-point range (8-21), 73% free throw percentage (19-26)
- San Jose State: 45% field goal percentage (24-53), 36% from three-point range (10-28), 73% free throw percentage (9-11)
Game Recap
The Lobos held a lead for 97% of the game, demonstrating their control despite a close contest in the first half. New Mexico’s depth and second-half scoring proved crucial, as they outscored San Jose State 43-36 in the second half. The Lobos averaged 44.2 second-half points per game, even as San Jose State allows 39.6 after halftime.
Looking Ahead
New Mexico will advance to the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament, where they will face a challenging opponent. The Lobos are aiming for the tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth.
Source: themw.com