SDSU's Steve Fisher named MWC coach of the year, Xavier Thames league's top player

San Diego State 's Xavier Thames holds the conference trophy after State's 51-48 victory over New Mexico that captured the Mountain West Conference regular season championship in a NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) (The Associated Press)

San Diego State's Xavier Thames holds up a cut net after San Diego State defeated New Mexico 51-48 to win the Mountain West Conference title, in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 8, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) (The Associated Press)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State's Steve Fisher was named the Mountain West coach of the year on Monday, with Aztecs forward Xavier Thames earning player of the year honors.

The eighth-ranked Aztecs picked up quite a few league awards after wrapping up the regular-season title over the weekend. Josh Davis was the newcomer of the year and Dwayne Polee II voted as the league's top sixth man.

In other awards, UNLV junior forward Khem Birch was the defensive player of the year for a second straight season and Fresno State's Paul Watson was freshman of the year.

Fisher's team was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll, but went 16-2 in conference play. The Aztecs are 27-3 heading into the conference tournament this week in Las Vegas.