Broncos end Aztecs’ 29-game home win streak, tie for MW lead

SAN DIEGO — After three conference games, Boise State hadn’t won. Since then, the Broncos have lost only once.

The visiting Broncos continued their rise to the top of the Mountain West, defeating No. 24 San Diego State 56-46 on Saturday night.

“Nobody comes in here and wins,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said after snapping San Diego State’s 29-game home winning streak. “For us to get it done, they deserve a lot of atta-boys.”

The Broncos (22-7, 12-4) pulled into a tie with the Aztecs (22-7, 12-4), but based on their season sweep hold the tiebreaker edge. Both teams have two conference games remaining. The win also improved the Broncos’ chances of making the NCAA Tournament.

Boise State has won 12 of 13 after its first victory ever at San Diego State.

“After we lost our first three, we started to focus on just one game, and that is what we are still doing today,” said Boise State guard Derrick Marks, the game’s leading scorer with 18 points. “That is why we have had so much success. It’s all about us. What the other team is doing doesn’t matter.”

Marks, the conference’s leading scorer, had 10 second-half points. Forward James Webb III added 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

San Diego State shot 32 percent from the field and saw its four-game winning streak snapped. Forward Winston Shepard was the lone San Diego State player to score in double figures with 16 points.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve come up here with a frown on my face and feeling disappointment,” San Diego State coach Steve Fisher said. “I’ve got both of those. We had an opportunity to clinch at least a share of the title and didn’t get it done. That’s disappointing.”

■ UNR 62, San Jose State 51 — At Reno, AJ West scored 17 points, and the Wolf Pack (9-19, 5-11) pulled away late to beat the Spartans (2-26, 0-16).

■ Utah State 74, Air Force 60 — At Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman guard Julion Pearre scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Aggies (18-10, 11-5) past the Falcons (13-15, 6-11).

Chris Smith had 16 points and seven rebounds for Utah State, which has won six in a row.

■ Fresno State 59, New Mexico 55 — At Fresno, Calif., Paul Watson had 10 points and 11 rebounds , and the Bulldogs (14-15, 9-7) held off the Lobos (14-15, 6-11).