Yanni Wetzell and the San Diego State Aztecs have clinched the Mountain West Conference regular season title with four games still to play.
The title success is on the back of a 14-0 record in conference play coupled with an unbeaten 25-0 record overall – the only unbeaten team in NCAA Division I Men’s basketball. Both streaks are school records.
The clincher was an 82-59 home win against New Mexico on Wednesday (NZT) with Wetzell contributing 20 points (7/9FG) and 9 rebounds.
“I think pretty early on I thought this team could be pretty special,” reflected Wetzell after receiving his championship medal.
After enduring a difficult 2018-19 season at Vanderbilt University Wetzell transferred to San Diego for his final season of college basketball. In complete contrast to his junior year at Vanderbilt, where the Commodores failed to win a single conference game, the opposite is true with San Diego who are yet to lose one.
“I got here in the summer with a bunch of guys and I knew we had great pieces from the get-go. I think it’s a credit to the recruitment and just the way, across the board, how deep we are,” said the former Westlake Boys High forward.
His 20 points equaled his career high for the third time this season – he has scored in double figures on 17 occasions in 25 games this season. Averaging 12 points per game he sits third on the Aztecs scoring list this season and with 6.5 boards leads the team’s rebounding statistical category.
This is the fourth outright regular season MWC title won by the Aztecs following successes in 2006, 2014 and 2016.
Ahead of them is the Mountain West Championships in early March followed by a trip to the Big Dance, the NCAA Championships.
LACEY LOWDOWN 