NCAA Basketball: Kansas rises, Duke, Kentucky, and Texas Tech fall in latest top-25 power ranking

22. San Diego State Aztecs - 17-5 (6-3 Mountain West)

Coming off a home win over Wyoming, all eyes were on the Aztecs and their key two games this past week. The first one was against Colorado State on the road. The game started out being played in a favorable style for San Diego State but the Rams pushed the pace and were able to use the home environment in their favor to end up getting the needed win.

The final score was a 79-71 loss for the Aztecs. Reese Dixon had 17 points, while Lamont Butler had 16 points, four assists, and four steals. Jaedon Ledee finished with just 13 points and seven rebounds, an off-game by his lofty standards this season.

San Diego State had a game just as tough this weekend, taking on Utah State at home. This was even more important since the Aggies were in first place in the Mountain West standings and the Aztecs had to win to keep any hope of a regular-season title alive. To their credit, they had one of the best offensive performances of the season, getting the 81-67 home victory. The frontcourt duo of Ledee and Jay Pal each had 16 pints, while Micah Parrish had 14 off the bench.

The win puts San Diego State just one game out of the 1st place in the conference standings. But they’re going to have to win on the road to keep pace this week. The Aztecs got Air Force first before a key battle at Nevada on Friday, with a chance to get the regular-season sweep over them.