It was chaos week in the Mountain West as the conference’s top four NCAA Tournament contenders — Boise State, New Mexico, San Diego State and No. 22 Utah State — all took losses. 

The Lobos (15-4, 7-1) and Aggies (16-2, 6-1) both suffered their first MWC defeats of the men’s basketball season. New Mexico bounced back strong Friday with an 84-65 rout of Boise State (13-6, 5-3) while Utah State returns to action Wednesday against visiting Nevada (11-7, 3-4). 

Saturday night, surging UNLV (11-7, 5-2) stunned San Diego State (11-5, 4-3) at Viejas Arena, 76-68. The Rebels also knocked off Utah State, 65-62, earlier in the week. 

Following the carnage, the MWC is left without a team inside the top 40 of the NCAA NET Rankings. Utah State leads the way at No. 41, followed by San Diego State (No. 45), Boise State (No. 48) and New Mexico (No. 59). UNLV, despite the two signature wins, is all the way down at No. 96. 

KenPom has the top four MWC teams ranked in a different order: No. 43 San Diego State, No. 50 Utah State, No. 55 New Mexico and No. 56 Boise State. 

Entering Friday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had three MWC teams in his NCAA Tournament field of 68: Utah State (seven seed), San Diego State (nine seed) and New Mexico (last four in, 11 seed). Boise State was not among Lunardi’s next eight out.

The MWC received six NCAA Tournament bids last season — Boise State, Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State and Utah State. The Aztecs made it to the Sweet 16.

To put itself back in NCAA Tournament contention, Boise State needs to start banking some MWC wins. The Broncos’ next opportunity is a 6 p.m. Mountain time road game at Colorado State (11-7, 5-2) on Wednesday. 

New Mexico junior point guard Donovan Dent strengthened his MWC Player of the Year case against the Broncos, putting up 16 points, seven assists and two blocks. 

Dent averages 18.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He is the MWC’s co-leader in scoring with Wyoming’s Obi Agbim and ranks second in assists per game behind Boise State’s Alvaro Cardenas (6.8). 

Other MWC Player of the Year candidates include: 

San Diego State sophomore guard Miles Byrd (14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block)

Colorado State senior guard Nique Clifford (16.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1 steal)

Boise State senior forward Tyson Degenhart (17.5 points, six rebounds, 1.6 assists)

Utah State sophomore guard Mason Falslev (15.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals)

Utah State senior guard Ian Martinez (16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists). 

UNLV sophomore guard Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.8 points, 4.5 assists, 2.1 rebounds) 

Charlene Wylie Williamson

OBITUARY

Charlene Williamson (nee Wylie) passed away peacefully on December 19, 2024, following a brief period of illness. Beloved wife, devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, fierce advocate for public libraries and education of women; she will be missed.

After graduating from Hoover High, she went on to San Diego State College to major in journalism. At SDSU, she met Bob. They married in 1959 and were together to the very end.

She joined the Friends of the Oceanside Library in 1973. Neither Charlene’s life, nor the library, would ever be the same. A stalwart volunteer for the Friends, she was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees in 1988. She remained on that board for 36 years, not stepping down until January of 2024. She worked with community leaders to found the Oceanside Public Library Foundation.

She devoted countless hours to PEO and the American Association of University Women. Typical for her, she led both groups. Her work with AAUW’s Tech Trek program was a source of immense pride and passion.

Charlene is survived by her husband Bob, her children Lori Chambliss (Larry Bawdon), Scott (Debbie) and Ian (Rebecca). She is also survived by ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren including two who arrived this year. She was predeceased by her son Brian and his wife Happy.

Services will be held at Eternal Hills in the chapel on Wednesday, January 22 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in her name be made to the Oceanside Public Library Foundation.

Freshman guard Nat Martinez had career highs of 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists Saturday afternoon to lead San Diego State (3-4, 14-6) to a 85-66 Mountain West win at Utah State (0-6, 1-16).

Martinez, who hit her first five 3-point attempts, became the first Aztec in the Mountain West era to have at least six 3-pointers, nine rebounds and seven assists in the same game. Martinez has already earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors three times this season.

Point guard Veronica Sheffey had season-highs of 19 points and seven assists. Forward Kim Villalobos had 13 points and eight rebounds, and freshman guard Naomi Panganiban had 12 points. The Aztecs shot 60% (12-for-20) from 3-point range.