DENVER – It would take a familiar, perhaps most fitting, protagonist for San Diego State to complete a tale about the journey to the NCAA Tournament. Wyoming – which had won two straight games heading into last night’s Mountain West Conference Tourney – played every bit of the role. Chapter one: When SDSU beat the Cowboys in overtime on Jan. 28, the Aztecs lost just two games the rest of the way. Chapter two: When SDSU defeated Wyoming on March 1, the Aztecs clinched the MWC regular season title, their first since 1978.And chapter three: When the tournament championship was on the line in Denver at the Pepsi Center, it was, once again, the same Cowboys that were on the losing end of a dramatic overtime battle – one that SDSU won, 69-64, behind junior guard Brandon Heath’s eight points in the extra period, giving it an automatic bid into the NCAA Tourney.”I think at times one play can make a game, one game can make a season,” said head coach Steve Fisher, referring to senior forward Trimaine Davis’ game-winning tip-in and free throw in January against Wyoming. “I said that before the game. I said, ‘I do believe for us, the play that Trimaine Davis made to tip in the basket, get fouled ? for us to win that game catapulted us to the rest of this story. I think it helped makes this a great, great season for us.”The Aztecs (24-8) became the first MWC team to win the tournament championship twice and will know at 3 p.m. today where they will play in the first round of the Big Dance. Regardless, they will enter the 64-team tournament coming off a three-game conference tournament that brought out the best – and worst – of SDSU this season.SDSU, which shot 46.4 percent before last night’s game, struggled to get the ball in the hoop, shooting 28.8 percent. The Aztecs struggled shooting in all three games, really, but made the most important ones in overtime against the Cowboys (14-8) – even without junior forward Marcus Slaughter, who fouled out with four seconds remaining in regulation.”The thing that impressed me the most was the way we shot the ball – in overtime,” Fisher said. “We struggled to make baskets in three games, so I’m doubly proud of the fact we’re the last dog standing.”However, that dog huffed, puffed and narrowly escaped with a victory. In overtime, with SDSU down 64-63, Heath sank a jumper with 37 seconds remaining to put the Aztecs ahead. A turnover by Cowboy Steve Levine and two subsequent free throws by Heath made it 66-63. After sophomore guard Matt Thomas fouled Wyoming’s Brad Jones, who made one of two free throws with 13 seconds remaining, freshman Kyle Spain eventually sank three free throws to seal the game. “This was a San Diego State team victory, as it was personified tonight when arguable our best player was not right there,” Fisher said. “We had guys that were able to hang in there and deliver and it’s nice to have veteran guys like (senior guard John) Sharper and (Davis) that can come in and fight. I would have felt more comfortable if we had Marcus going into the overtime. But we dug in there.” The Aztecs had a chance to end the game in regulation, however. After Cowboy Brad Jones sank a free throw to tie the game at 56, freshman point guard Richie Williams drove the ball down the length of the court with seven seconds remaining, had a semi-open look for a layup in front of the basket and passed it to Spain – who went up and failed to sink a close shot.”We should have, could have, and didn’t win it 30 minutes ago in regulation when Richie just did exactly what he wanted to do, drove it to the rim,” Fisher said. “We were a little anxious and didn’t finish it. And then you got to make sure you’re not too disappointed. We’ve had a thought: Live in the moment and don’t dwell on what just happened – make that next play.”The Aztecs’ next play will happen on a bigger stage, with more, drama, twists, turns and characters – all with the same fondness of a plot with a national championship at the end.For SDSU now, the book is not yet closed.