Honestly, if you had Colorado State winning it all on your bracket back in February, you’re either a genius or a liar. Probably both. The Mountain West Tournament 2025 was supposed to be the New Mexico coronation. Or maybe San Diego State’s revenge. Instead, we got a four-day fever dream at the Thomas & Mack Center that basically flipped the conference hierarchy on its head.
Vegas in March is always a bit much, but this year felt different. The air was thick with "bid thief" energy from day one. You could feel it. By the time the final buzzer sounded on Saturday, March 15, the Rams were cutting down nets and the rest of the conference was left staring at a very complicated Selection Sunday.
Why the Mountain West Tournament 2025 was so Weird
Let's look at the bracket. New Mexico came in as the #1 seed after a monster 17-3 conference run. They looked untouchable. Until they weren't. Richard Pitino’s squad had been the class of the league all season, but the Mountain West is a meat grinder. It doesn’t care about your regular-season trophy.
The real story, though? It was the #5 seed Boise State and the #2 seed Colorado State. People keep forgetting that Boise State actually knocked out the Aztecs in the quarterfinals. That 62-52 win was a defensive masterclass. It effectively ended San Diego State’s hope of an automatic bid and sent them to the First Four in Dayton.
The Semifinal Heartbreak
The semifinals were where things got truly spicy. New Mexico vs. Boise State was a heavyweight fight. Period.
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- Donovan Dent was doing Donovan Dent things (23 points, 5 assists).
- Nelly Junior Joseph reached his 100th career block as a Lobo.
- The Lobos led 34-28 at the half.
But Boise State just... hung around. They used a 10-0 run late in the second half to seize the lead. Tyson Degenhart was a problem. A big one. Even when Dent hit a putback dunk with a minute left to give UNM a 66-65 lead, you could tell the momentum was weird. Boise State closed it out 72-69.
On the other side of the bracket, Colorado State was busy dismantling Utah State 83-72. It wasn't even as close as the score looked. Niko Medved had his guys playing at a different speed.
What Happened in the Championship Game?
Saturday’s final between Colorado State and Boise State was, frankly, a bit of a blowout after the first ten minutes. Boise State actually started strong. They held the Rams scoreless for the first five minutes of the game. 6-0 Broncos. Then the wheels didn't just fall off; they disintegrated.
Colorado State went on a 15-0 run. Then a 11-0 run to start the second half. Nique Clifford was the best player on the floor, and it wasn't particularly close. He dropped 24 points, grabbed six boards, and looked like he was playing against a high school JV team at points.
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The Rams won 69-56. It was their first Mountain West tournament title in over 20 years. That’s a long time to wait for a party in Vegas.
The MVP: Nique Clifford
Clifford didn't just win MVP; he owned the tournament. His ability to hit the three (CSU shot 50% from deep in the final) while defending the opponent's best wing is why they're so dangerous. He made life miserable for Degenhart, who still managed 22 points but had to work for every single inch of space.
The Aftermath: Who Actually Made the NCAA Tournament?
Despite the chaos, the Mountain West still proved it’s one of the best "non-power" (whatever that means anymore) conferences in the country. We ended up with four teams in the Big Dance.
- Colorado State (Auto Bid): Earned a #12 seed and a date with Memphis in Seattle.
- New Mexico (At-Large): Slotted in as a #10 seed against Marquette.
- Utah State (At-Large): Also a #10 seed, heading to Lexington to face UCLA.
- San Diego State (At-Large): Sent to the First Four as an #11 seed against North Carolina.
The fact that the regular-season champion (New Mexico) and the tournament champion (Colorado State) were both in the field wasn't a surprise. The surprise was Boise State getting left out despite making the final. They finished 24-10, but the committee didn't care for their non-conference strength of schedule. Brutal.
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Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're already looking ahead to the 2026 tournament, keep these three things in mind. First, the "home court" advantage for UNLV is a myth. They lost in the quarterfinals to Utah State. Don't bet on the rebels just because they're in Vegas.
Second, the Mountain West is a "middle-heavy" league. The gap between the #2 seed and the #7 seed is almost non-existent. This tournament is built for upsets. If you're betting or bracket-building, look for the team with the best defensive rebounding percentage. That’s how Boise State made their run.
Lastly, watch the NET rankings early. The committee showed this year that they value high-quadrant wins over "almost" winning a conference tournament. Boise State learned that the hard way. To survive the Mountain West, you have to win your big non-conference games in November, or the March magic won't matter.