The Mountain West men’s basketball tournament concluded Sunday, with top-seeded Utah State cutting down the nets for the third time in program history. What were some of the best moments of the tournament?! Let’s go over a few, shall we?!
(Editor’s note: None of these are done in any sort of order.)
Tyrin Jones’ game-sealing block versus Wyoming:
Jones has been a fly swatter around the rim this year, rejecting a MW-most 2.1 shots per game and 3.5 per 75 possessions. Though the hyper-athletic UNLV freshman saved his most important for UNLV’s nail-biting
win over Wyoming to tip the tourney off.
Playing in the 8-9 game, UNLV saw a 13-point halftime lead vanish in the second half. Though Kimani Hamilton’s three-point play — courtesy of a turnaround 8-foot jumper — with 19 seconds left gave UNLV a 71-70 lead. The Pokes’ 21st offensive rebound of the afternoon gave Demarion Dennis a prime look at the rim.
But it was Jones’ game-sealing block that saved the Runnin’ Rebels, giving them their first quarterfinal win over a team not named Air Force in a decade.
BJ Davis’ game-winner vs. New Mexico:
Friday’s semifinal between New Mexico and San Diego State was a barn burner.
We await to see SDSU’s fate, but it felt like a First Four game before the actual First Four.
Davis has come up huge in multiple clutch moments for the Aztecs this season. The 6-foot-1 guard had another in the waning moments. New Mexico’s Deyton Albury tied the back-and-forth battle at 62 with 25 seconds left.
But Davis, who missed five of his first six shots, kept SDSU’s at-large chances alive with a tough finish over Luke Haupt with 3.1 seconds left.
San Jose State gives tourney first big upset!
Look away, Boise State!
San Jose State entered this week with conference wins over Air Force — who ended the season on a 25-game losing streak (#yikes!) — and Nevada, who it stunned at home in mid-November.
The Broncos closed as 14.5-point favorites (depending on the book), but looked completely outmatched from start-to-finish. SJSU’s win easily became the biggest upset of the tournament, becoming the second 11-seed in Mountain West Tournament history to advance. It was also the Spartans’ first-ever win over Boise in a game that wasn’t at home, and its largest margin-of-victory over Boise since 2001-02.
Uriah Tenette meets BJ Davis at the rim:
Sure, Davis got the last laugh at the end of the day.
But I can’t get over how insane of a block this was from New Mexico guard Uriah Tenette, who’s 5-foot-11!!
His timing, verticality and hand-eye coordination were pitch perfect on this play.
It was the freshman’s second block of the season … and it was one of the biggest highlights of the tournament. In 2025-26, Tenette is averaging 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals across 26.8 minutes per game.
Utah State puts together a redemption run:
Utah State’s road to a Mountain West Tournament title included three teams who beat them — UNLV (twice), Nevada and SDSU — this season.
Talk about a redemption story!
We’re going to miss you, Utah State. Congratulations.
