LAS VEGAS — Lorrenzo Wade had 20 points and 10 rebounds while making a series of key shots in a tense second half, and San Diego State kept alive its NCAA tournament hopes with a 71-57 victory Thursday over host UNLV in the Mountain West Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Kyle Spain, Tim Shelton and Ryan Amoroso scored 10 points apiece for the Aztecs (22-8), who took a big first-half lead and largely held onto it in what probably amounted to an NCAA elimination game for both schools.

Wade took charge in his hometown, with the high-scoring senior hitting three of his four 3-pointers in the first half before grabbing nine rebounds in the second half.