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San Diego State is the near-unanimous pick to win the 2016-17 Mountain West Conference men's basketball championship.

In the league's preseason media poll, which was released Wednesday at the league's annual basketball media day gathering in Las Vegas, the Aztecs received 23 of 27 first-place votes. Nevada ended up second in the balloting. Utah State was picked sixth in the 11-team conference.

"You have to look at San Diego State and Nevada right off the top," Aggie coach Tim Duryea said. "Until something changes, San Diego State has been a top-tier team for a long time [and] Nevada returns a lot of good players."

San Diego State finished with 293 points in the voting by media members who cover the Mountain West. Nevada ended up with 253 points, just ahead of New Mexico with 249.

"New Mexico is always looming with their talent and home court," Duryea said. "… [But] the conference is, once again, very deep. There is a very, very fine line between finishing fourth and tenth."

San Diego State went 28-10 last season, including a 16-2 record in the Mountain West. The Aztecs won the regular-season championship but lost to Fresno State in the tournament championship game. Three starters return for the Aztecs, who reached the NIT semifinals.

Moore, McEwen earn preseason honors

Utah State senior Jalen Moore and freshman Koby McEwen received individual accolades during the media day.

Moore was named to the league's five-player preseason all-conference team. McEwen was named the preseason co-Freshman of the Year, along with San Diego State's Jalen McDaniels.

Moore was a third-team all-Mountain West selection last season, when he led the Aggies in scoring (15.2) and rebounding (6.0). He had at least 10 points in 28 of 31 games.

Joining Moore on the all-conference team are New Mexico's Elijah Brown and Tim Williams, Nevada's Cameron Oliver and San Diego States Trey Kell.

Brown, a 6-foot-4 guard, was named the preseason Player of the Year. He averaged 21.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season. —

MWC men's basketball poll

Team Pts.

1. San Diego St. (23) 293

2. Nevada 253

3. New Mexico (3) 249

4. Fresno State (1) 200

5. Boise State 164

6. Utah State 153

7. Colorado State 146

8. UNLV 120

9. Air Force 90

10. Wyoming 73

11. San Jose State 41

First-place votes in parenthesis All-Mountain West preseason team

G • Elijah Brown, Jr., New Mexico

G • Trey Kell, Jr., San Diego State

F • Jalen Moore, Sr., Utah State

F • Cameron Oliver, So., Nevada

F • Tim Williams, Sr., New Mexico

Player of the Year • Elijah Brown, New Mexico

Preseason Freshmen of the Year • Koby McEwen, Utah State, and Jalen McDaniels, San Diego State

Newcomer of the Year • Montaque Gill-Caesar, San Diego State