San Diego State will wrap up its regular season at 6 p.m. Wednesday with an unexpected — and not necessarily welcome — game.
Instead of ending their season Saturday on the high of taking two from Boise State, they will hit the road to play UNLV to make up one of two January games postponed due to COVID-19 positives within the Runnin’ Rebels program.
Mountain West officials announced the decision Feb. 23. The Aztecs (19-4, 13-3 in MW) had been trying to add another game on their own before the MW Tournament, but will focus on UNLV instead, with the conference title on the line.
“They took that decision out of our hands and kept it in the conference’s hands and it’s what it’s going to be now,” coach Brian Dutcher told XTRA Sports 1360. “No sense to cry about it — time to man up and play another road game.
SDSU, ranked No. 19 nationally by The Associated Press, isn’t the only school with games to play this week. Due to pandemic postponements, officials added eight games to the schedules of conference teams, including title contender Colorado State. The Rams (15-4, 12-2 in MW) must play two games, against New Mexico, on Tuesday, and Nevada on Friday.
SDSU, though, enjoying a 10-game win streak, controls its own destiny, following its sweep of Boise State.
If they win, the Aztecs take the MW season championship. It’s not automatic though – pesky UNLV (11-12, 8-8 in MW) knocked SDSU off its unbeaten perch last season.
If they lose, Colorado State or Utah State still have a chance at the championship – and top seeding in the MW Tournament, beginning March 11.
“Our fate is in our own hands and that’s the way we want it,” Dutcher said in the interview.