The San Diego State men’s basketball team entered Wednesday’s home game against Boise State needing a win if it had any chance of getting back into the Mountain West Conference race. With road games against Colorado State, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of New Mexico, the Aztecs could not afford to lose a home game.

The game started as an offensive struggle for Boise State, as the Broncos missed their first eight shots of the game before hitting their next three to tie the score at 6 early in the game.

SDSU then used a 13-2 run to gain a 19-8 advantage with 12 minutes left in the first half and held a double-digit lead until BSU went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 8 with two minutes left in the first half. At halftime, the Aztecs led the Broncos 38-28.

Both teams combined to miss the first seven shots of the second half before trading buckets to make it 40-30 in favor of SDSU.

The Broncos used a 13-6 run to cut the deficit to 44-41 with less than 13 minutes left in the game, before senior guard James Rahon made his fourth 3-pointer of the night to extend the lead back to 6.

With seven minutes left in the game and the Aztecs leading by 5, BSU redshirt freshman guard Mikey Thompson made a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 52-50.

One minute later, sophomore guard Derrick Marks hit a 3-pointer to give the Broncos a 56-54 lead.

With both teams tied at 58 with 3:20 left in the game, it was Thompson again with the 3-pointer to give the Broncos the 61-58 advantage.

After five consecutive possessions rendered no points for the Aztecs, Franklin made a layup to cut the deficit to 61-60 with 14 seconds left, before Marks hit one of two free throws to set up a wild finish.

Senior guard Chase Tapley, still battling a right wrist injury, picked up a loose ball on SDSU’s side of the court and nailed a 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left in the game to give the Aztecs a one-point lead. A desperation 3-pointer by the Broncos at the buzzer was no good and the Aztecs escaped with a 63-62 win.

The Aztecs are now 17-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

Player of the game

Rahon finished with 16 points on 6 of 14 shooting, including four of eight from 3-point range. In his past two games, Rahon has scored 30 total points, his best two-game stretch of the season. His four 3-pointers and five rebounds tie a season-high.

Not in the boxscore

Junior guard Xavier Thames continues to battle a back injury and did not play for the second straight game and the fourth time in the last eight games.

Notes

—Former SDSU and current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley and former basketball players Billy White, D.J. Gay and Malcolm Thomas, all starters on the 2010-11 Sweet 16 team, were in attendance.

—Sophomore forward JJ O’Brien scored SDSU’s first 6 points of the game and was a perfect 5 for 5 from the field in the first half.

—Freshman forward Skylar Spencer finished the game with four blocks, tying a career-high.