San Jose State vs New Mexico Picks and Prediction – 3/13/2025

San José State enters this Mountain West quarterfinal at 15-18 after edging out Wyoming 66-61 in the first round. The Spartans have won three of the last five, including a dominant 92-68 victory over Fresno State, but also suffered a blowout loss to Colorado State. New Mexico, at 25-6, comes in as the second seed after closing the regular season with a three-game win streak, most recently defeating UNLV 81-67. The Lobos have won five of the last seven and remain a serious contender for the conference tournament title. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

San José State has relied heavily on guard Josh Uduje, who leads the team with 16.6 points per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. The Spartans put up 73.0 points per game but struggle defensively, allowing 74.1 per contest. They do not dominate the boards, pulling down just 33.9 rebounds per game, which could be an issue against New Mexico. 

Ball movement has been decent at 13.3 assists per game, but they lack interior defense, averaging just 3.0 blocks. Center Robert Vaihola leads the team in rebounds (7.3) and blocks (1.5), but overall, they have struggled against high-caliber opponents.

New Mexico boasts one of the best offenses in the conference, averaging 82.2 points per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Guard Donovan Dent leads the team with 20.4 points and 6.5 assists per game, controlling the tempo and creating opportunities. The Lobos dominate the glass, averaging 39.5 rebounds per game, led by Nelly Junior Joseph’s 11.1 boards. 

New Mexico also has a strong defensive presence, forcing 9.0 steals and blocking 5.2 shots per game. If they control the pace and take advantage of San José State’s defensive weaknesses, this should be a comfortable win.

New Mexico's offensive firepower and rebounding edge should be too much for San José State to handle. The Spartans struggle against top-tier teams, and a lack of defensive presence will be exposed by the Lobos' high-tempo attack. New Mexico’s depth and ability to control the boards should lead to a convincing win. Final Score Prediction: New Mexico wins 85-68