Utah holds off San Diego State for MWC title

Luke Nevill had 18 points and 15 rebounds to carry Utah to a 52-50 victory over San Diego State today in the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Nevill, a 7-foot-2-inch senior center, came up with a big effort in the same week he was named conference Player of the Year.

The second-seeded Utes (24-9) earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The fourth-seeded Aztecs (23-9) are still in strong position to receive an NCAA at-large invitation.

Lorrenzo Wade, a senior forward from Cheyenne High School, scored 12 points to lead San Diego State. Ryan Amoroso had 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Lawrence Borha hit the first of two free throws to put Utah ahead by two points with 5.7 seconds remaining. The Aztecs rebounded and point guard Richie Williams raced up the court, but Williams was stripped of the ball by the Utes’ Shaun Green just before time expired.

Utah, trailing 20-18 at halftime, opened the second half with a 10-2 run and never relinquished the lead.

Borha’s 3-pointer put the Utes up 40-33 with 8:08 to go. Amoroso’s rebound basket pulled the Aztecs within 45-42 with 2:07 remaining.

Wade averaged 22 points and 8.5 rebounds in San Diego State’s previous tournament victories over Brigham Young and UNLV.