Game preview: Lobos visit Aztecs on Friday night for key Mountain West game

New Mexico at SDSU

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Viejas Arena

On the air: FS1; 760-AM

Records: UNM is 20-5, 8-4; SDSU is 19-6, 8-4

Series history: New Mexico leads 50-44 and the teams have split the last four. The Lobos won the first meeting this season, 88-70 at The Pit on Jan. 13. They also won at Viejas Arena last year, 76-67.

Lobos update: They were the nation’s final remaining unbeaten team last season before fading in February and failing to make the NCAA Tournament. It looked like history was repeating itself, losing back-to-back home games ahead of a tough road schedule. But then they pulled out a dramatic 83-82 win at Nevada on Tuesday, thanks to a pair of late 3s from slumping guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., to pull into a second-place tie with SDSU. The big concern now sophomore guard Donovan Dent, who has arguably been their best player but twisted an ankle on the final play Tuesday and is considered questionable. Despite their issues at The Pit, the Lobos have won four straight on the road. They have had five different players score at least 26 points in a game, one of only two teams in Division I which can say that (Louisville is the other): Dent (31), Mashburn (29), Jaelen House (28), freshman JT Toppin (27) and Nelly Junior Joseph (26). The Lobos lead the conference in both blocks and steals; only one team has done that in the past decade, SDSU in 2021-22. They flew directly to San Diego from Nevada instead of returning home.

Aztecs update: They get their crack at the only team to win in Viejas Arena in the past 35 games and 398 days. And that loss took monster performances from House (29) and Mashburn (22), plus an injury that sidelined Aguek Arop, plus 11 of 22 shooting from the line and 6 of 24 beyond the arc, plus a rare technical on Nathan Mensah that fouled him out with 8:20 left in a one-point game. The Aztecs have won all 18 games at Viejas Arena since, equaling the longest active home win streak in the nation with four other teams (Kansas, Houston, Drake and Morehead State). “Obviously, guys know they beat us here last year,” coach Brian Dutcher said. “But that can’t change our approach. You can’t be a team that rides a roller coaster, and you’re playing maximum one day and then you have a letdown. As a coach, you’re looking for a level of consistency.” Tuesday’s 71-55 win against Colorado State (after trailing 17-3 and allowing a program-low 11 points in the second half) bumped SDSU’s metrics to 18 in both Kenpom and NET. New Mexico is next best in the Mountain West at 21 in both and a 5.5-point underdog by Kenpom.com.

Next up: Tuesday at Utah State (6 p.m. PST, CBSSN)