WAC POSTSEASON NOTES
WAC NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD
Current WAC teams are a combined 35-67 in the NCAA Tournament, and Utah State’s 18 NCAA appearances are the most by any current member of the league. The WAC has sent at least two teams to the NCAA Tournament 19 times in the last 22 years and a WAC team has advanced to at least the second round 10 times in the last 12 years,
FOUR WAC TEAMS HEAD TO NATIONAL POSTSEASON PLAY
Four WAC men’s basketball teams have advanced to national postseason play. Utah State will travel to Boise, Idaho to play Marquette in the NCAA Tournament’s first round on Friday. Nevada has been invited to the College Basketball Invitational, where it will host UTEP on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. PT. Idaho will host Drake in the first-ever CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The Vandals will host Drake on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:05 p.m. PT. Boise State will travel to play Stanford in the CBI on March 18 at 7 p.m. PT.
UTAH STATE AND THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Utah State is 6-19 (.240) all-time in the NCAA Tournament, which includes a 4-13 (.235) record in the first round. USU has lost five straight games in the NCAA Tournament and its last win was in the first round of the 2001 tournament when it defeated fifth-seeded Ohio State, 77-68, in overtime. In its last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006, USU lost to fifth-seeded Washington, 75-61, in the first round.
WAC AND THE 11th SEED
Utah State is only the second team in WAC history to earn an 11th seed at the tournament. UTEP received the 11th seed three times, in 1985, 1990 and 2005. With that 11th seed, UTEP went 1-3.
UTAH STATE AND THE WAC AT THE TOURNAMENT
Friday’s game marks the second time that Utah State has represented the WAC at the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies also represented the WAC at the tournament in 2006, where the team earned the 12th seed and dropped a 75-61 decision to Washington.
WAC VERSUS MARQUETTE AT NCAAs
Utah State’s game against Marquette on Friday marks just the second time that a WAC team has faced Marquette at the NCAA Tournament. Tulsa, as the No. 12 seed, faced No. 5 Marquette in 2002. Tulsa upset the No. 5 seed, 71-69, and advanced to the second round where it dropped an 87-82 decision to No. 4 Kentucky.
RECENT WAC SUCCESS AT NCAA TOURNAMENT
The last WAC team to advance past the first round at the NCAA Tournament is Nevada, who won its first round game in 2007, defeating No. 10 Creighton 77-71 in overtime. Nevada also advanced past the first round as the No. 9 seed in 2005, defeating No. 8 Texas 61-57. Nevada advanced to the “sweet 16” in 2004 as the 10th seed.
NEVADA AND BOISE STATE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN CBI
Making its seventh consecutive postseason appearance, the Nevada Wolf Pack (21-12, 11-5 WAC) will play host to the University of Texas at El Paso Miners (19-12, 10-6 Conference USA) on Tuesday night in the first round of the second annual College Basketball Invitational, a 16-team, single-elimination tournament played at on-campus sites. Boise State will have a chance to reach their goal of posting its second consecutive 20-win season as the Broncos have accepted a bid to participate in the 2009 College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The Broncos (19-12, 9-7 WAC) will travel to the Bay Area to take on Stanford (18-13, 6-12 Pac-10), Wednesday. This will mark the first meeting between the two schools
IDAHO TO HOST CollegeInsider.Com TOURNAMENT GAME
The best season in 10 years is not yet over for the University of Idaho men’s basketball team.
Idaho was selected Sunday for participation in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The Vandals, who earned their best record since the 1998-99 season at 16-15 overall, will host the Drake University Bulldogs of the Missouri Valley Conference Wednesday. The Vandals earned a third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference with a 9-7 conference record. It was the highest conference finish for the Vandals since the 1998-99 team finished third in the Big Sky. Idaho’s 16 wins are the most in a season since the 1998-99 team finished 16-11 and the Vandals cannot finish below .500 for the first time in 10 years. Idaho won six of its last seven regular season games and is 12-3 at home this season. Idaho has not participated in a postseason tournament since an NCAA Tournament berth in 1990. The Vandals were defeated in the opening round by Louisville at Salt Lake City, 78-59.The CIT is a single-elimination tournament, consisting of four rounds, with the first three rounds being played at on-campus sites, which will be determined by seeding.
WAC NOTES
UTAH STATE CLAIMS 2009 WAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TITLE
No. 1 Utah State led the entire game en route to a 72-62 win over second-seeded Nevada. Tournament MVP Gary Wilkinson led the Aggies with a game-high 21 points and six rebounds. The victory marks Utah State’s first-ever WAC Tournament championship. Utah State won its second-straight Western Athletic Conference regular season championship this year, and its first outright WAC title since joining the league four years ago.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Armon Jones, Nevada
Jared Quayle, Utah State
Tai Wesley, Utah State
Gary Wilkinson, Utah State (MVP)
WAC HONOREES SELECTED
The WAC men’s basketball postseason award winners as selected by the league’s nine head coaches were announced on Sunday, March 8. The first team is led by Utah State senior forward Gary Wilkinson who was also voted the WAC’s Player of the Year. Wilkinson is the second-straight Aggie to earn Player of the Year honors as USU’s Jaycee Carroll earned the award last season. Wilkinson led Utah State in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in WAC play. The senior led USU to its second-straight WAC regular season crown. Nevada’s Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson, Idaho’s Mac Hopson and New Mexico State’s Jahmar Young were also first team selections. Wilkinson was the only repeat all-WAC honoree from last season. Wilkinson earned second team all-WAC honors last year. Nevada forward Luke Babbitt became the second-straight Wolf Pack player to earn the WAC’s Freshman of the Year award. In 16 conference games, Babbitt averaged 17.3 points per contest and 7.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.6 percent from the field. Utah State head coach Stew Morrill earned his first Don Haskins Coach of the Year honor by leading the Aggies to a second-straight regular season WAC title. In his 11th year with Utah State, Morrill led the Aggies to a 14-2 conference record. He also led his Aggies to a second-straight undefeated season at home, where the team holds the nation’s second-best home win streak at 34 games.
2008-09 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
First Team
Mac Hopson, Idaho, G, 6-2, 195, Jr.
Luke Babbitt, Nevada, F, 6-9, 225, Fr.
Armon Johnson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 195, So.
Jahmar Young, New Mexico State, G, 6-5, 180, So.
Gary Wilkinson, Utah State, F, 6-9, 240, Sr.
Second Team
Mark Sanchez, Boise State, F, 6-7, 235, Sr.
Sylvester Seay, Fresno State, Fr, 6-9, 220, Jr.
Roderick Flemings, Hawai?i, F, 6-7, 210, Jr.
Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-5, 205, Jr.
Jared Quayle, Utah State, G, 6-1, 180, Jr.
All-Defensive Team
Ike Okoye, Boise State, F, 6-9, 230, Jr.
Anthony Thomas, Boise State, G, 6-0, 199, Jr.
Kareem Nitoto, Hawai?i, G, 6-2, 185, So.
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, C/F, 6-11, 220, Jr.
Lyndale Burleson, Nevada, G, 6-3, 190, Sr.
All-Newcomer Team
Roderick Flemings, Hawai?i, F, 6-7, 210, Jr.
Mac Hopson, Idaho, G, 6-2, 195, Jr.
Magnum Rolle, Louisiana Tech, C/F, 6-11, 220, Jr.
Luke Babbitt, Nevada, F, 6-9, 225, Fr.
Jared Quayle, Utah State, G, 6-1, 180, Jr.
Player of the Year: Gary Wilkinson, Utah State
Freshman of the Year: Luke Babbitt, Nevada
Don Haskins Coach of the Year: Stew Morrill, Utah State
EIGHT WAC PLAYERS SELECTED TO ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Eight WAC student-athletes have been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 6 team. The honorees are now eligible for the NABC All-America teams to be announced at the conclusion of the season. Utah State led the way with three players, including Gary Wilkinson, Jared Quayle and Tai Wesley. Nevada had two with Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson. Mac Hopson represented Idaho on the team. New Mexico State’s Jahmar Young made the team and Hawai?i’s Roderick Flemings also earned a spot on the squad.
WAC AMONG ELITE COMPANY AS EACH LEAGUE MEMBER BOASTS 13 OR MORE WINS, FIRST TIME SINCE 1965 THAT ALL WAC TEAMS HAVE HAD 13 OR MORE WINS
As of March 17, the WAC is the only conference in the nation to boast 13-plus wins for each of its member schools. Each member of the WAC has at least 13 wins this season. It also denotes the first time that each of the WAC’s member institutions have had 13 or more wins since the 1964-65 season. It’s only the second time in WAC history that each of its member schools have had 13 or more wins.
WAC CONTINUES TO CLIMB RPI CHARTS
As a conference, the WAC continues to climb the RPI rankings, coming in at 11 according to both CollegeRPI.com and RealTimeRPI.com. The WAC ranks just ahead of the Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Colonial, and West Coast Conferences. Utah State’s men’s basketball team continues to climb the RPI chart, coming in at a WAC-best 23. After being ranked in previous weeks, USU is once again ranked. Utah State is currently ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. USU’s No. 21 ranking in the Feb. 9 AP poll marks the highest for a Utah State team since Feb. 9, 2004 when that Aggie team was ranked 19th in the nation. Nevada also holds a top-100 RPI mark at 83.
UTAH STATE’S STEW MORRILL NAMED DISTRICT COACH OF THE YEAR, WILKINSON ALSO EARNS ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
Veteran Utah State men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill continued to be recognized nationally this year and was named the District VIII Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). It is the first time Morrill has been named District Coach of the Year by the USBWA. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year this week after leading Utah State to a 30-4 record, including a first-place conference finish with a 14-2 league mark. All-time, it is Morrill’s fourth conference coach of the year honor.
UTAH STATE’S STEW MORRILL NAMED FINALIST FOR HENRY IBA AWARD AND SKIP PROSSER MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Utah State veteran men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill is one of 10 finalists for the 2009 Henry Iba Award, which is annually given to the nation’s coach of the year, it was announced on Monday by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). Morrill has led Utah State to a 27-4 overall record this year and its second straight Western Athletic Conference regular season championship, including its first outright league title, as USU finished with a 14-2 in the WAC. He is also he is one of 12 finalists for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award. The Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award is given annually to a Division I head coach who best represents the high standards of the coaching profession. Winning with integrity. The award was established by CollegeInsider.com and the Prosser Family. The award is named in memory of former Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser who passed away suddenly on July 26, 2007.
WAC GOES 5-4 IN BRACKETBUSTER GAMES
Western Athletic Conference teams went 5-4 in the seventh annual ESPNU BracketBusters ? a multi-day men’s basketball event matching NCAA Tournament hopefuls against each other which took place this past week. Three of the WAC’s games were televised nationally, including Nevada, Utah State and Boise State.
2009 WAC ESPNU BracketBusters Results
Nevada def. Virginia Commonwealth, 71-70
Television: ESPNU
Louisiana Tech def. Murray State, 69-60
Saint Mary’s def. #23 Utah State, 75-64
Television: ESPN2
Portland State def. Boise State, 93-81
Television: ESPNU
New Mexico State def. Cal State Fullerton, 94-68
Fresno State def. UC Davis, 71-70
Idaho def. Cal State Northridge, 78-75
UC Riverside def. San Jose State, 53-52
UC Irvine def. Hawai?i, 76-70
Underline denotes home team
YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Of the 124 players on rosters in the WAC, 75 (60.5 percent) are made up of juniors and sophomores. There are currently just 20 seniors in the league, eight of which are current starters. There are nearly just as many freshman starters (6) in the league as there are senior starters (8). Juniors and sophomores make up 60.5 percent of the starting lineups on the WAC.
TURNING IT AROUND
After winning eight games last season, Idaho has more than surpassed its win total from last season. The Vandals went 8-21 (.276) last season and now hold an 16-15 (.516) mark this year. Louisiana Tech, which went 6-24 (.200) last season, has also surpassed its win total from last year as the team currently holds an 15-18 (.455) mark.
UTAH STATE’S OVERALL WIN STREAK COMES TO AN END, HOME STREAK STILL ALIVE
Utah State’s win streak ended at 19 games with a loss to Boise State on Feb. 19. The streak is tied for the longest in school history with the 1999-2000 team that also won 19 straight games. Before its loss to Boise State, Utah State had also won 16 straight WAC games dating back to the 2007-08 season including eight straight on the road. USU’s 16 straight WAC victories ranks second all-time in the conference. Utah holds the record for most consecutive WAC wins at 19, set from the 1997-98 to 1998-99 seasons. The Aggies currently hold the nation’s second-best home win streak in the country at 34 games. Kansas holds the top home win streak at 41 games.
SAN JOSE STATE WAC ROAD SUCCESS
This year’s San Jose State team is the first in school history to win three conference road games in a season since joining the WAC in 1996. The Spartans picked up wins at Fresno State, Hawai?i and Louisiana Tech. The 1994 Spartans are the last SJSU team to win at least four conference road games, posting a 6-3 win-loss record en route to an overall 15-12 mark.
WAC RANKS TOP-20 NATIONALLY IN EIGHT TEAM, FOUR INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
As of March 15, the WAC ranks in the top-20 in eight team and three individual statistical categories. Utah State ranks leads the nation in field goal shooting at 49.8 percent, second in win-loss percentage (88.2), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.45), 13th in rebound margin (7.0), 16th in scoring margin (10.8) and 16th in three-point field goal percentage (39.8). New Mexico State ranks 11th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (40.0). Boise State ranks 15th in assists per game at 16.3. Individually, USU’s Tyler Newbold leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.07. Hernst Laroche ranks 19th in the same category at 2.48. New Mexico State’s Wendell McKines is 19th in rebounds per game at 10.0.
IDAHO SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY
Idaho’s 54-point victory over UC Irvine on Nov. 28 was its largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent in school history. The previous record was a 53-point margin against Pacific in 1983. It ranked as the second largest margin ever at Idaho behind a 111-34 win over Northwest College in 1987.
NEVADA’S BABBITT AND FRESNO STATE’S GEORGE AMONG TOP FRESHMEN IN NATION
The only freshman in WAC history to earn back-to-back WAC Player of the Week honors, Luke Babbitt has opened his first season with Nevada in strong fashion, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding. Babbitt has a chance to become the first Nevada freshman to lead the team in scoring since Terrance Green in 1999-00. He could also become the first freshman to pace the Pack in rebounding since Nick Fazekas averaged 7.6 rebounds per game in 2003-04. He currently ranks second among the nation’s freshmen in scoring. Fresno State freshman Paul George is also among the nation’s elite freshman. George currently ranks eighth among the nation’s freshman in scoring.
USU POSTS SECOND-BEST DEFENSIVE EFFORT IN NCAA HISTORY
Utah State accomplished a rare feat Nov. 25 in its 75-49 home win against Weber State as it held the Wildcats without a field goal for the final 16:20 of the game, which according to the NCAA is the second-longest field goal drought in NCAA history. The longest stretch in NCAA history one team has held another without a field goal was on Feb. 25, 1979 when Duke held North Carolina scoreless for 20:48. For Utah State, its defensive effort against Weber State is the best since Feb. 15, 2006, when it held Idaho scoreless for 13:53, which was the third-longest scoring drought in NCAA history. USU also had a 37-0 run against the Vandals, which is an NCAA record, and it held Idaho without a field goal for 16:01 during that game, which was the second-longest streak in NCAA history before the WSU game.
TOP WAC TEAMS OVER LAST FIVE YEARS
Over the last five seasons dating back to 2003-04, Utah State has turned in a 149-48 record, the best record of any WAC team during that time (.756 winning percentage). In conference games, Nevada has won 79 games, the most in that same time period. The top three teams in winning percentage (both overall and WAC) over the last five seasons:
Overall Record (Pct.)
1. Utah State 149-48 (.756)
2. Nevada 148-51 (.744)
3. Boise State 114-78 (.594)
WAC Record (Pct.)
1. Nevada 79-21 (.790)
2. Utah State 46-18 (.719)
3. Boise State 60-58 (.508)
FRESNO STATE’S GEORGE PUTS DOWN DUNK THAT LANDS NO. 1 ON SPORTCENTER’S TOP PLAYS
Paul George highlighted Fresno State’s game at Saint Mary’s (11/17) with a memorable dunk that landed as the No. 1 play on Sportscenter’s Top 10 “Plays of the Day” for Nov. 18, 2008 and opened the preview highlights for the broadcast. The dunk, where the freshman slashed straight to the basket and delivered an emphatic one-handed slam on two Gael defenders, beat a pair of Lebron James’ and other professional highlights for the top spot.
UTAH STATE’S WILKINSON EARNS SPOT ON NATIONAL WATCH LISTS
Utah State’s Gary Wilkinson has been named one of 50 players to headline the Naismith Trophy watch list. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Detroit, Mich. He was also named one of 30 candidates for the 2008-09 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year. Wilkinson, a 6-9 senior forward from South Jordan, Utah is the only player from the Western Athletic Conference to be selected for both the Naismith and Lowe’s CLASS award. Entering the 2008-09 season, Wilkinson was voted as the WAC’s preseason Player of the Year by the media after earning second-team all-WAC honors as a junior. As a senior, Wilkinson is averaging 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds.
SAN JOSE STATE’S PIERCE SETS SCHOOL THREE-POINT MARKS
Forward Tim Pierce became the new San Jose State career record holder for 3-points baskets made. He broke the old record of 123 set by Michael Quinney. Pierce also holds the SJSU all-time record for 3-point field goal attempted. Pierce also set the SJSU record for most consecutive three-point baskets made as he connected on nine in a row (5-for-5 in second half at San Diego and 4-for-4 to open the game against Northern Colorado).
WAC TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos (19-12, 9-7 WAC)
Boise State dropped its WAC Tournament quarterfinal game, 80-70, to New Mexico State last week in a rematch of last season’s WAC Tournament championship game ... Mark Sanchez had 25 points and 12 rebounds and Anthony Thomas had 18 points ... La’Shard Anderson also reached double digits with 11 points ... BSU hit 6-of-10 threes in the first half, but went 1-of-9 in the second from beyond the arc ... despite the loss at the WAC Tournament, BSU will have a chance to reach its goal of posting its second consecutive 20-win season as the Broncos have accepted a bid to participate in the 2009 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) ... the Broncos (19-12, 9-7 WAC) will travel to the Bay Area to take on Stanford (18-13, 6-12 Pac-10), Wednesday, March 18, at 8 p.m. (MT) during the opening round of play ... this will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
Fresno State Bulldogs (13-21, 3-13 WAC)
Fresno State went 1-1 at the WAC Tournament last week, defeating Hawai?i in the first round before falling to Utah State in the quarterfinals ... against UH, senior guard Dwight O’Neil, who scored 14 points on the night, hit the biggest shot of the season as he softly floated a 15-foot go-ahead jumper to lift Fresno State ahead 59-58 with 21.7 seconds left to help the Bulldogs to the win ... junior forward Sylvester Seay led the Bulldogs with 16 points, three blocks and took what was believed to be his first charge of the season, which sealed the win for Fresno State ... O’Neil sank all three 3-pointers he took while recording 14 points in his final game wearing a Bulldog uniform as No. 9 Fresno State dropped its quarterfinal bout with the sharp-shooting and eventual champion Utah State 85-68 ... Seay ended the year as Fresno State’s leading scorer by averaging 15.3 points per game.
Hawai?i Rainbow Warriors (13-17, 5-11 WAC)
Hawai?i wrapped up its season with a WAC Tournament first round loss to Fresno State, 62-58 ... UH looked poised to capture its first WAC Tournament win in four years but saw it all slip away in less than 90 seconds ... the ’Bows led by as many as 11 points in the second half and held a five-point lead with 1:28 remaining in the game ... however, the Bulldogs ended the game on a 10-1 run to hand UH its third devastating loss in less than a month ... UH lost similar leads at San Jose State and Nevada during regular season play ... UH was led by junior Roderick Flemings who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Kareem Nitoto tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three assists ... UH had one last chance to tie the game, but Flemings’ desperation three-pointer with three seconds remaining was off the mark and Fresno State escaped with the win.
Idaho Vandals (16-15, 9-7 WAC)
Idaho dropped its WAC Tournament quarterfinal game to Louisiana Tech, 70-62 last week ... however, the best season in 10 years is not yet over for the Vandals ... the Vandals, who earned their best record since the 1998-99 season at 16-15 overall, will host the Drake University Bulldogs of the Missouri Valley Conference Wednesday (March 18) at 7:05 p.m. ... the game will be played at Memorial Gym as the Cowan Spectrum has been removed in preparation for the Kibbie Dome renovation project ... the Vandals earned a third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference with a 9-7 conference record ... it was the highest conference finish for the Vandals since the 1998-99 team finished third in the Big Sky ... Idaho’s 16 wins are the most in a season since the 1998-99 team finished 16-11 and the Vandals cannot finish below .500 for the first time in 10 years.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (15-18, 6-10 WAC)
Louisiana Tech went 1-1 at the WAC Tournament, defeating Idaho 70-62 in the quarterfinals before dropping a 77-68 decision to Nevada in the semifinals ... in the win over Idaho, Kyle Gibson led all scorers on the night with 23 total points, while freshman Olu Ashaolu added 14 along with Brandon Gibson’s 10 ... the Bulldogs knocked down their free throws at the right time and finished the game 20-of-25 ... against Nevada, junior Kyle Gibson finished the night with 25 points, while Rolle finished with 24. Armon Johnson led Nevada with 24 points ... Gibson now has 1,106 points in his career and ranks him 28th all-time in Bulldog history ... Tech’s 15 wins on the season is the most since the 2005-06 season when the Bulldogs went to the NIT ... losing only two seniors, the Bulldogs expect to bring back a very experienced team.
Nevada Wolf Pack (21-12, 11-5 WAC)
The Wolf Pack went 2-1 at the WAC Tournament, defeating San Jose State and Louisiana Tech before dropping a 72-62 decision to Utah State in the title game ... Nevada now moves on to national postseason play ... making its seventh consecutive postseason appearance, Nevada will play host to the University of Texas at El Paso Miners (19-12, 10-6 Conference USA) on Tuesday night in the first round of the second annual College Basketball Invitational ... Tuesday night’s game will tip off at 8:05 p.m. Pacific Time and will be televised by HDNet with Rich Cellini and Craig Ehlo calling the action ... after falling to Utah State in the championship game of the WAC Tournament on Saturday, the Wolf Pack has won five of its last six games and eight of its last 10 ... Nevada has also turned in its sixth consecutive 20-win season and finished in sole possession of second place in this year’s WAC standings.
New Mexico State Aggies (17-15, 9-7 WAC)
New Mexico State went 1-1 at the WAC Tournament, defeating Boise State, 80-70, in a quarterfinal matchup before falling to eventual champion Utah State, 71-70 ... in the win over BSU, junior guard Jonathan Gibson had a team-high 22 points, which tied his season-high mark ... freshman guard Hernst Laroche recorded a career-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting along with a game-high five assists ... sophomore guard Jahmar Young finished with 16 points on a 7-for-7 free-throw performance despite only playing 27 minutes due to foul trouble ... sophomore forward Wendell McKines collected his 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds ... in the loss to Utah State, Gibson had a team-high 16 points and Young supplied 15 points ... freshman forward Troy Gillenwater was also in double-digits with 12 points.
San Jose State Spartans (13-17, 6-10 WAC)
San Jose State dropped its WAC Tournament quarterfinal matchup against Nevada, 78-69 ... DaShawn Wright, in his final game for the Spartans, posted a career scoring high of 22 points on 8-of-11 from the field ... the 6-foot-4 senior was able to hit the mid-range jumper from various spots in the offensive zone as well as finish drives to the basket ... three San Jose State players finished in double-figure scoring ... Adrian Oliver, who had only two points a week earlier against Nevada, worked his way for 12 points, two less than C.J. Webster’s total of 14 ... Webster, who scored 22 points against the Wolf Pack in the previous meeting between these teams, was in first-half foul difficulty and had second-half foul problems before fouling out with 45 seconds remaining.
Utah State Aggies (30-4, 14-2 WAC)
Utah State won its first-ever WAC Tournament championship after sweeping its games against Fresno State, New Mexico State and Nevada ... USU will make its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years when the 11th-seeded Aggies take on sixth-seeded Marquette in the first round of the NCAA West Regional on Friday at Taco Bell Arena at Boise, Idaho ... Utah State is making it first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in three years, but its sixth in the last 10 years and seventh in the last 12 years ... overall, the Aggies are making their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance ... USU’s last NCAA Tournament was in 2006, when the Aggies dropped a 75-61 decision to fifth-seeded Washington in the first round ... this is the first time ever that USU has faced Marquette ... in its previous 17 appearances, Utah State is 6-19. The last USU NCAA Tournament victory was in 2001 when the Aggies beat Ohio State, 77-68.