Everyone in the Mountain West is now chasing the New Mexico Lobos.
The Lobos, the No. 1 team in this week's Nevada Appeal Mountain West rankings, took control of first place in the conference on Sunday with an 82-79 victory over No. 2 Utah State.
The Lobos, 22-4, 14-1, swept the Aggies (22-4, 12-3) in their two-game series this year, thanks to what happened Sunday in Albuquerque and an 82-63 victory on Feb. 1 in Logan, Utah.
Both teams have just five games remaining in the regular season before heading to Las Vegas March 12-15 for the conference tournament.
"We'll come back tomorrow with a high level of humility," New Mexico coach Richard Pitino said on golobos.com after the Lobos' eighth victory in a row and 15th in the last 16 games.
"They are tasting success, and they like the taste of it," Pitino said of his players. "And they want to keep it going."
New Mexico was 27-of-34 from the free-throw line compared to Utah State's 13-of-16. Utah State was called for 29 fouls while New Mexico was whistled just 15 times.
"We thought they (Utah State) would be physical and that we could get to the free-throw line a lot," Pitino said. "Making 27 was great."
Utah State led 42-36 at the half and the game was tied 76-76 with 1:25 to play. New Mexico's Tru Washington (25 points on four threes) hit a huge 3-pointer for an 80-76 lead with nine seconds to play.
"Tru stepped up and did great things," Pitino said. "He was just out there willing us to victory just by playing hard."
New Mexico survived a scare early in the week before holding off No. 9 Wyoming, 71-67. The Lobos struggled at the line in that game, making just 18-of-34 at home.
Utah State also won a key game earlier in the week, beating No. 4 Colorado State at home, 93-85. Colorado State's Nique Clifford had 24 points and 16 rebounds, but the Aggies' Mason Falslev had 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and four threes. Utah State was 12-of-23 on threes.
Colorado State (16-9, 10-4) also whipped Wyoming, 88-53, on Saturday as Clifford had 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Rams, who will host Nevada this Tuesday, were 14-of-24 on threes.
"Our confidence level is rising," Clifford told csurams.com.
"The best thing the guys did was not overthink," Colorado State coach Niko Medved said after beating Wyoming. "They just kept moving the ball and kept it simple."
No. 3 San Diego State (17-6, 10-4) won twice last week, beating San Jose State (69-66) on the road and Boise State (64-47) at home. The Aztecs beat San Jose State despite missing 19-of-23 threes.
The win over No. 5 Boise State (17-8, 9-5) kept San Diego State in contention for the league regular-season title.
"I've got guys that are mentally tough and follow a game plan," San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher told goaztecs.com.
Nick Boyd led San Diego State with 24 points against Boise State. The Aztecs led 28-18 at halftime, holding Boise State to just 7-of-23 shooting. Boise State was 3-of-18 on threes for the game.
"We played a good first half and I told them, "Play with desperation," Dutcher said. '"Play with panic. We did that. We started the second half like we were behind."
Boise State will come to Lawlor Events Center to play the Wolf Pack this Saturday (Feb. 22) in a key Mountain West game.
The No. 6 Wolf Pack (15-10, 7-7) beat Fresno State, 94-69, and San Jose State, 73-58, last week to stay in contention for one of the top five spots in the Mountain West and a key first-round bye in the conference tournament.
Nick Davidson had 25 points against Fresno State while Kobe Sanders had 10 assists against Fresno State and nine against San Jose State. The Wolf Pack is now at .500 in the Mountain West for the first time this season.
No. 8 San Jose State (12-15, 5-10) got 17 points from Latrell Davis but turned the ball over 18 times against Nevada.
"It was a tough night for Spartan basketball," San Jose State coach Tim Miles told sjsuspartans.com. "We just didn't play with a winning way. We lost by 15 in points off turnovers (20-5) and we lost by 15 for the game. That tells you everything you need to know."
No. 7 UNLV (14-12, 8-7) blew out Air Force (77-52) and squeaked by Fresno State (52-51) last week. The Rebels, now on a three-game winning streak, missed 19-of-25 threes and were just 2-of-4 from the line against Fresno State.
"We'll take a win every way, any way we can get it," UNLV coach Kevin Krueger told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Rebels needed a block by Pape N'Diaye on a layup attempts by Fresno State's Zaon Collins with 13 seconds to play to help secure the victory.
"I was like, 'We have to win that game no matter what,'" N'Diaye, a 7-foot freshman from the Ivory Coast, said. "So, I just chased the block. I had to go and block it."
There are several key games in the Mountain West this week: Nevada at Colorado State on Tuesday and New Mexico at Boise State on Wednesday head the schedule early in the week. On Saturday, Boise State is at Nevada, San Diego State is at Utah State and Colorado State will be at UNLV.
The Nevada Appeal Mountain West men's basketball rankings for the week of Feb. 17:
1. NEW MEXICO (22-4, 14-1). Last week: New Mexico 71, Wyoming 67 (Feb. 12), New Mexico 82, Utah State 79 (Feb. 16). This week: New Mexico at Boise State (Feb. 19).
2. UTAH STATE (22-4, 12-3). Last week: Utah State 93, Colorado State 85 (Feb. 11), New Mexico 82, Utah State 79 (Feb. 16). This week: San Jose State at Utah State (Feb. 19), San Diego State at Utah State (Feb. 22).
3. SAN DIEGO STATE (17-6, 10-4). Last week: San Diego State 69, San Jose State 66 (Feb. 11), San Diego State 64, Boise State 47 (Feb. 15). This week: Fresno State at San Diego State (Feb. 18), San Diego State at Utah State (Feb. 22).
4. COLORADO STATE (16-9, 10-4). Last week: Utah State 93, Colorado State 85 (Feb. 11), Colorado State 88, Wyoming 53 (Feb. 15). This week: Nevada at Colorado State (Feb. 18), Colorado State at UNLV (Feb. 22).
5. BOISE STATE (17-8, 9-5). Last week: San Diego State 64, Boise State 47 (Feb. 15). This week: New Mexico at Boise State (Feb. 19), Boise State at Nevada (Feb. 22).
6. NEVADA (15-10, 7-7). Last week: Nevada 94, Fresno State 69 (Feb. 10), Nevada 73, San Jose State 58 (Feb. 14). This week: Nevada at Colorado State (Feb. 18), Boise State at Nevada (Feb. 22).
7. UNLV (14-12, 8-7). Last week: UNLV 77, Air Force 52 (Feb. 11), UNLV 52, Fresno State 51 (Feb. 15). This week: Colorado State at UNLV (Feb. 22).
8. SAN JOSE STATE (12-15, 5-10). Last week: San Diego State 69, San Jose State 66 (Feb. 11), Nevada 73, San Jose State 58 (Feb. 14). This week: San Jose State at Utah State (Feb. 19).
9. WYOMING (11-15, 4-11). Last week: New Mexico 71, Wyoming 67 (Feb. 12), Colorado State 88, Wyoming 53 (Feb. 15). This week: Air Force at Wyoming (Feb. 18), San Jose State at Wyoming (Feb. 22).
10. FRESNO STATE (5-21, 1-14). Last week: Nevada 94, Fresno State 69 (Feb. 10), UNLV 52, Fresno State 51 (Feb. 15). This week: Fresno State at San Diego State (Feb. 18), Fresno State at Air Force (Feb. 22).
11. AIR FORCE (3-22, 0-14). Last week: UNLV 77, Air Force 52 (Feb. 11). This week: Air Force at Wyoming (Feb. 18), Fresno State at Air Force (Feb. 22).