LAS VEGAS — With first place in the Mountain West on the line, San Diego State’s basketball team (14-3, 8-0 MW) found itself in unfamiliar territory Saturday night and pushed to overtime in a matchup that had been circled on the conference calendar for weeks.
The Aztecs ultimately emerged with a 75–66 overtime win over UNLV (12-6, 7-1 MW), securing sole possession of first place in the Mountain West standings. For SDSU, the 8-0 conference start is the best in program history. However, both teams entered the game undefeated in conference play and tied atop the league. SDSU’s execution in overtime and defensive resolve proved to be the difference.
The victory marked San Diego State’s tenth straight win, a streak that continues to build momentum as the Aztecs firmly cement themselves as the conference front runner.
While the box score shows balance, much of SDSU’s identity in this game came from the defensive end, particularly Nala Williams’ on-ball defense, which disrupted UNLV’s rhythm late and in overtime. Williams finished with four steals and seven assists, but her impact extended well beyond numbers, applying pressure that forced rushed decisions and turnovers during critical stretches.
The game’s tone reflected its stakes. Neither team led comfortably, and the contest featured 15 lead changes, with SDSU and UNLV trading control deep into the fourth quarter. San Diego State led for over 26 minutes, but struggled to separate as UNLV continued to answer.
“This is a great rivalry. Both teams are competitive and want to win,” Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson said. “I’m proud of our effort. It wasn’t our best game, but we played hard and recovered in overtime.”
After starting the game down by as many as eight, the Aztecs chipped away, taking the lead for the first time with three minutes into the second quarter. They could not stretch it though, and the Aztecs ended the half down by one, 31-30.
San Diego State responded by coming out of the locker room behind Nat Martinez, who knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to open the third quarter. The shots helped SDSU briefly seize control and energized an offense that shot 71% (5 of 7) from three in the third quarter, its most efficient stretch of the night.
Despite that surge, the Aztecs couldn’t fully put UNLV away. In fact, San Diego State went four and a half minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter, allowing the Rebels to climb back and eventually force overtime. The offensive drought underscored how slim the margin for error was in a matchup between two evenly matched conference contenders.
Overtime, however, belonged to SDSU. The Aztecs outscored UNLV 12–3 in the extra period, leaning on composure, defense and timely execution. Bailey Barnhard converted key free throws, and SDSU capitalized on UNLV turnovers to stretch the lead beyond reach.
Bailey Barnhard helped the Aztecs convert the overtime period into a win with free throws. Derrick Tuskan / San Diego State
Offensively, Naomi Panganiban led SDSU with 20 points, while Martinez finished with 19, delivering baskets in crucial moments across regulation and overtime. San Diego State also held a 21–11 edge in bench points, a testament to its depth in a physically demanding contest.
In a game defined by pressure and persistence, San Diego State proved capable of surviving and responding when the moment demanded it. As the Mountain West race tightens, Saturday’s overtime victory may stand as one of the defining performances of the Aztecs’ conference season. San Diego is back in Viejas Arena on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. for their Pride Game. Watch on the Mountain West Network or buy tickets here.