LAS VEGAS, March 10 (UPI) -- Jamaal Franklin's 19 points Friday sent No. 21 San Diego State into the Mountain West finals for the fourth straight year with a 79-69 win over Colorado State.
San Diego State will meet New Mexico in Saturday's championship game, after the Lobos knocked off No. 20 Nevada-Las Vegas.
San Diego State trailed by a point at halftime but James Rahon hit a 3-pointer to begin the second period and the Aztecs led the rest of the way.
Chase Tapley had 17 points and six assists and Rahon scored 15 points for the top-seeded Aztecs (26-6).
Colorado State (20-11) was led by Dorian Green with 20 points and Jesse Carr with 17.
San Diego State put together an 11-2 run that gave the Aztecs a 61-50 lead and the Rams came no closer than seven the rest of the way.
New Mexico and UNLV were tied with 1:35 remaining but the Lobos closed the game with an 8-3 burst that included four free throws from Demetrius Walker and four more from Kendall Williams.
Drew Gordon had 19 points for New Mexico (25-6), which went 1-1 against San Diego State this season.
Anthony Marshall paced UNLV (26-7) with 19 points.
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