LAS VEGAS (AP) Lamont Butler scored 16 points and No. 20 San Diego State held on to beat Colorado State 64-61 in the Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday.

The top-seeded Aztecs (25-6) never led by more than five points in the second half, and Isaiah Stevens’ 3-pointer gave the eighth-seeded Rams (15-18) a 59-58 lead with 1:42 left. Jordan LeDee and Matt Bradley each hit two free throws to give San Diego State a 62-59 lead with 16 seconds remaining.

“We knew this would be a hard game,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. “I told the guys whether we made them efficiently or not, we made the plays when the game was on the line. Whether it was the play, or the play after the play, I thought we made enough important ones.”