Mountain West Conference men's basketball championship history
As this college basketball tournament is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, take a look back at the previous winners of the Mountain West Conference.
The Mountain West Conference holds an annual men’s basketball tournament with the winner getting an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The conference features 11 teams: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming.
The Mountain West Conference tournament begins March 4. The quarterfinals and the semifinals will be played on March 5 and March 6 respectively. The championship is held on March 7.
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The conference began playing in 1999.
2020: UTAH STATE
Utah State's Sam Merrill looks to pass as San Diego State's Malachi Flynn defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Mountain West Conference men's tournament championship Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
The Aggies repeated as Mountain West Conference champions with a 59-56 win over San Diego State. Sam Merrill was named tournament MVP.
2019: UTAH STATE
Utah State won its first Mountain West title in 2019. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Utah State won its first Mountain West title in 2019. The Aggies knocked off San Diego State, 64-57. Sam Merrill was named MVP.
2018: SAN DIEGO STATE
For the first time since 2011, San Diego State was Mountain West Conference champs. The Aztecs defeated New Mexico, 82-75. Trey Kell was named MVP.
2017: NEVADA
Nevada won its first Mountain West Conference title in 2017. They defeated Colorado State, 79-71. Jordan Caroline was named MVP.
2016: FRESNO STATE
San Diego State lost for a fifth time in the conference championship and their third straight. Fresno State defeated the Aztecs, 68-63. Marvelle Harris was named MVP.
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2015: WYOMING
Wyoming won its first Mountain West title in 2015. The Cowboys finally broke through thanks to an MVP performance from Josh Adams. Wyoming edged San Diego State, 45-43.
2014: NEW MEXICO
New Mexico became the first team to win three consecutive Mountain West championships in 2014. They knocked off San Diego State for the second time in three years, 64-58. Cameron Bairstow came away with the MVP.
2013: NEW MEXICO
New Mexico would repeat as champions in 2013. The Lobos knocked off UNLV, 63-56. Future NBA player Tony Snell would win the MVP award.
2012: NEW MEXICO
New Mexico would have a bit of a run in the early 2010s. The Lobos defeated San Diego State, 68-59 in 2012. Drew Gordon was named MVP.
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2011: SAN DIEGO STATE
Kawhi Leonard was a star at San Diego State before moving onto the NBA. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Diego State would repeat as champions in 2011. They defeated BYU, 72-54. However, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette would win MVP. He would be the first player to win the award on the runner-up team.
2010: SAN DIEGO STATE
Kawhi Leonard led San Diego State to its third Mountain West Conference title in 2010. The Aztecs defeated Utah, 55-45. Leonard won the MVP award.
2009: UTAH
Utah narrowly defeated San Diego State in 2009, 52-50. It was their second Mountain West Conference title. Luke Nevill was named MVP of the tournament.
2008: UNLV
UNLV became the first team to repeat as a champion in 2008. The Rebels, again, knocked off BYU, 76-61, in 2008. Wink Adams was named MVP.
2007: UNLV
The UNLV Rebels ended their losing streak in the title game in 2007 and won their second conference championship. They defeated BYU, 78-70. Kevin Kruger was named MVP.
2006: SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State would become the first multi-winner of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The Aztecs topped Wyoming, 69-64. Marcus Slaughter was named MVP.
2005: NEW MEXICO
New Mexico would thwart Utah’s chance of a repeat in 2005. Danny Granger won the MVP for the Lobos in their 60-56 victory.
2004: UTAH
The third time would not be the charm for UNLV in 2004. The Rebels fell to Utah, 73-70, in 2004. Nick Jacobson, of Utah, was named MVP.
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2003: COLORADO STATE
Matt Nelson helped the Rams to a conference title in 2003. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Colorado State ran into UNLV in 2003. The Rams edged the Rebels, 62-61. Matt Nelson was named MVP.
2002: SAN DIEGO STATE
UNLV would get back into the conference championship in 2002. But San Diego State would get the better of them, 78-75. Randy Holcomb was named MVP.
2001: BYU
BYU followed up its appearance in 2000 with a conference title win in 2001. The Cougars defeated New Mexico, 69-65. Mekeli Wesley was named the tournament’s MVP.
2000: UNLV
UNLV won the first Mountain West Conference title in 2000. The Rebels defeated BYU, 79-56. Mark Dickel was named MVP.
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