Mountain West Basketball: 2022 conference tournament preview

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 22: The Mountain West logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the San Diego State Aztecs andthe UC San Diego Tritons at the Viejas Arena on December 22, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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Nevada’s Grant Sherfield shoots against UNLV’s David Mouka Basketball Nevada Vs Unlv 4 /

First Round – Wednesday, March 9th

#8 Nevada vs. #9 New Mexico – 11 a.m. PST

Nevada and New Mexico get to kickoff the 2022 Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon. The Wolfpack and the Lobos only met once in the regular season with Nevada coming away with the 79-70 victory at home in Reno.

The Wolfpack come into this game losers in four straight but believe they do enough behind Grant Sherfield to advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday. Jamal Mashburn Jr. and company will not make it easy for Nevada though as the Wolfpack are able to escape by one possession.

Prediction: Nevada 76, New Mexico 74

#7 Utah State vs. #10 Air Force – 1:30 p.m. PST

Utah State and Air Force met twice during the regular season with each team coming up with a victory on their respected home courts. Seniors Justin Bean and Brandon Horvath are going to be a handful for the Falcons to stop all afternoon long. Fully expect the Air Force guards of A.J. Walker and Jake Heidbreder to have big games overall, but the Utah State frontcourt is just too much to handle in this matchup.

Prediction: Utah State 68, Air Force 59

#6 Fresno State vs. #11 San Jose State – 4 p.m. PST

In the final game of day one, the Fresno State Bulldogs take on the San Jose State Spartans. San Jose State has had a rough year winning just eight games, and only one game in conference play this season. The Bulldogs were able to sweep the season series rather convincingly over the Spartans during the regular season.

Orlando Robinson and the Bulldogs are the better team and will send San Jose State home after just one game. Have to give coach Tim Miles some time to get some of his own recruits at San Jose State to start building some momentum in the years to come moving forward.

Prediction: Fresno State 83, San Jose State 61