In WAC play yesterday

Utah State and Boise State remain unblemished in WAC play plus Nevada and San Jose State pick up road victories.

Kudos to the Herald Journal management for providing the travel expenses that allowed Shawn Harrison to travel to Las Cruces.

Ags notch rare win at Las Cruces
Shawn Harrison
The Herald Journal
January 11, 2009

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Nothing like rising to the challenge of your coach.

Utah State head coach Stew Morrill challenged his team to show their true character Saturday night, saying the second game on the road can define a team. The Aggies served notice they are to be reckoned with in the Western Athletic Conference.

Not since Feb. 24, 2000, had USU beaten New Mexico State in Las Cruces. That streak is over as the USU won the battle of the Aggies, 77-67, in front of 6,577 fans at the Pan American Center.

“We played with some grit and overcome some mistakes, just kept playing,” Morrill said. “... We just hung in there and made enough plays to win.

“... I did challenge our guys. It’s our sixth game in 13 days. Saturday night on the road, you find out what you are made of in terms of competing. We hung in there and competed, so that is a good sign...”

Go here for the remainder.

The Deseret News also has a USU - NMSU game story but minus a reporter.

Here's Jason Groves with his take from Las Cruces:

Aggies fall at home to Utah State
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
1/11/2009

LAS CRUCES — Through Friday, Utah State led the nation with a 51.9 percent field goal percentage.

Through Saturday, the UtAgs are also at the top of the Western Athletic Conference standings.

Utah State was 53.8 percent from the field on Saturday in a 77-67 victory over New Mexico State at the Pan American Center.

NMSU dropped its second straight league game at home after losing 79-71 in overtime to Nevada on Thursday. The Aggies fall to 2-2 in league play while Utah State moved to 15-1 on the season and unblemished at 3-0 in the WAC.

"They are pretty down right now, but the kids will bounce back," Aggies coach Marvin Menzies said. "But I think they will feel better when they look at the big picture, which is that we are 2-2 with another home game (on Jan. 15 versus Idaho) and knowing that they can play with anyone in the conference..."

Go here for the remainder.

Junior Anthony Thomas comes through again a few days later to lead Boise State to another victory.

Boise state men's basketball keeps streak alive
Nick Jezierny
The Idaho Statesman
1/11/09

The 13-point lead was gone, and there was no question that the Boise State men's basketball team's five-game winning streak was in serious jeopardy.

Hawaii had tied the Broncos 47-47 with 2 minutes, 23 seconds left in Saturday night's WAC game in front of a season-high crowd of 4,113 and Boise State's offense had generated only four field goals in the second half.

But 6-foot point guard Anthony Thomas played like the biggest player on the court.

The junior hit a 3-pointer and came up with a steal and a layup to help Boise State seal a 54-49 victory. He was the only Bronco to make a basket in the final 10 minutes and he scored 10 of his team's final 12 points...

Go here for the remainder.

Here's a staff report on the game from the Honolulu Advertiser.

San Jose State eked out a win down in Fresno in a game where one box out, or lack thereof, was critical.

Bulldogs lose tough one in OT to San Jose State
Bryant-Jon Anteola
The Fresno Bee
January 10, 2009

Had Saturday night been a multiple-choice exam on how to lose a game, the Fresno State men's basketball team would hard-headedly have selected all of the above.

The Bulldogs:

A. Couldn't make free throws down the stretch.

B. Failed to box out.

C. Took poor shots.

D. Were careless with the ball.

E. Lost a game they led by as many as 11 points and seemed assured of winning.

It added up to a 71-68 emotional defeat to San Jose State in overtime before an announced crowd of 9,002...

Go here for the remainder.

Here's Chris Murray with more on Nevada's thriller win down in Ruston.

Last two Wolf Pack wins marked by team play
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
1/10/2009

Luke Babbitt will get the big headline after Nevada's 67-64 win over La. Tech on Saturday -- and he deserves it, his game-winner was a great shot -- but there is no chance at a game-winner without some hefty contributions from the rest of the Wolf Pack. Nevada's last two comeback victories should be remembered for one thing: contributions from everybody. Let's point out some of the less-heralded contributions in the wins over NMSU and La. Tech...

Go here for the remainder.

Here are summaries and box scores of all the games from the official WAC site.