Preview of Boise State vs. San Jose State in Mountain West Championship

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The sixth-seeded Boise State Broncos, riding a wave of late-season momentum, face the 11th-seeded San Jose State Spartans in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Men’s Basketball Championship on Wednesday.

The Broncos (20-11) enter the tournament at T-Mobile Arena having won four of their last five games, including a 78-67 victory at Colorado State in their regular-season finale. They are led by guard Dylan Andrews, who averaged 15.8 points over the final six games. In Boise State’s 84-69 win over San Jose State on Feb. 21, Andrews contributed 12 points and four assists.

Conversely, the Spartans (8-23) limp into Las Vegas on a three-game skid, most recently an 88-78 home loss to Wyoming. Their season has been defined by struggle, but bright spots have come from dynamic guard Colby Garland. The junior is in the midst of a spectacular individual run, scoring 20 or more points in seven consecutive games. He averaged 25.1 points and 5.4 assists in that span, including a 22-point effort in the loss at Boise State last month.

History heavily favors the Broncos. Boise State won the two regular-season meetings by an average of 23 points, including an 89-58 rout in San Jose on Jan. 27. The Spartans have not defeated Boise State since the 2021 conference tournament.

For San Jose State to spring the upset, it will require a monumental performance from Garland and improved defensive intensity against a balanced Boise State attack that features Andrews and forward Drew Fielder, who scored 23 points in the win over Colorado State.

The winner advances to face the seed in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Boise State seeks to build on its recent success and solidify its postseason résumé, while San Jose State looks to salvage its season with a stunning tournament run.