Last night's WAC

We're going to have some fun here -- that a notice for the humor-impaired and irony-deficient.

Channeling the inner-fan throughout the WAC: Gosh, maybe Marvin Menzies can coach after all, guess he's a keeper -- for now. Mark Fox? Blech, run him out of town on a rail. Did Don Verlin's miracle potion dry up in the Hawaii sunshine? Maybe Greg Graham is a keeper ... but he is no Chris Petersen.

Here we go in an any team can beat any other team WAC:

The Daily Aggie
Sam Wasson
February 8, 2009

Cross "Game Winning Three Pointer" off the list of things to accomplish for Wendell McKines as the Aggies defeated Nevada 62-60 last night. Not only was it the first win for the Aggies in Reno since joining the WAC but it also kept them in the running for a top four seed in the conference tournament. It also provides the Aggies with the proof that they can beat the Wolf Pack in Reno which could be very important come March when the WAC tournament makes it's way to Reno.

The Aggies were down by 10 points at 26-16 with 7:07 remaining in the first half but behind good defense and rebounding they were able to finish the half on a 17-6 run to take a one point lead at 33-32 heading into the half. Nevada came out on an 11-7 run to take a five point lead but that was as big a lead as they would have. The Aggies retook the lead at 53-51 with 5:54 remaining in the game and were able to hang on to the lead until Nevada took a one point lead at 60-59 with 1:29 remaining in the game. Then just 30 seconds later Wendell McKines buried a three pointer from the top of key to give the Aggies the 62-60 lead...

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Another Lawlor nightmare
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-JOurnal
February 8, 2009

Armon Johnson trudged off the court, head down and with a pained look on his face.

Luke Babbitt staggered into the locker room as if he had just been sucker-punched.

Both had a chance to make game-changing shots in the final seconds of the Nevada basketball team's game against New Mexico State on Saturday night. Neither shot dropped.

And as the 6,786 fans filed out of Lawlor Events Center, they did so after witnessing something that hadn't happened in seven seasons.

The Wolf Pack's 62-60 loss to the Aggies was its second home defeat in league play in three days. Not since Nevada dropped games to Louisiana Tech and SMU in the 2001-02 season had that happened...

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Chris Murray has much more here.

Here's Dan Hinxman with even more.

Joe Santoro of the Nevada Appeal has a game review.

Nevada fans should consider themselves blessed (it is Sunday after all) as Chris Murray has yet another article in today's paper.

Next, we have to go with Hawaii's smackdown of Idaho. First Fresno State and now Idaho have been held to less than 50 points by the Rainbow Warriors.

'Bows batter Vandals, 71-49
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser

Even in these tough economic times, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team found a way to earn interest on its payback.

The Rainbow Warriors defeated Idaho, 71-49, last night behind a career-best performance from Kareem Nitoto and a highlight-reel game from Roderick Flemings.

The 22-point victory avenged a 20-point loss at Idaho last month.

"On the road, all games is rough," Flemings said. "We just wanted to come back and protect our house, get them back for the 20-point beating. So we got what we wanted, really."

A crowd of 3,475 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows improve to 12-11 overall and 4-7 in the Western Athletic Conference with their second consecutive blowout win...

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Or try this if you prefer:

Brian McInnis
Honolulu Star Bulletin
February 8, 2009

A savvy point guard rode a hot hand to a blowout win last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Kareem Nitoto sizzled on his way to a career-high 21 points to carry Hawaii over Idaho 71-49 before a crowd of 3,475 last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Rainbow Warriors (12-11, 4-7 Western Athletic Conference) might have something to say to the Vandals (10-12, 4-5) about being the most improved team in the WAC. UH made it two straight blowout wins at home and looks little like the team that lost five straight conference games last month...

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Utah State had a tougher time than expected but came through.

A win is a win
And 18th in a row keeps USU in control
Jared Eborn
Deseret News
February 8, 2009

Utah State's 23-1 record, complete with an 18-game win streak, is a thing of beauty.

The Aggies' 60-52 win Saturday night in a sold-out Spectrum, however, was anything but.

"It was kind of an old-fashioned slugfest," USU coach Stew Morrill said. "In those kinds of game you have to get down and dirty."

Style points aside, Utah State will gladly take the win. It's a victory that leaves the No. 25 Aggies (No. 22 in the coaches poll) with an 11-0 record in the Western Athletic Conference and their 31st consecutive victory at home.

And Utah State is in the drivers' seat for the WAC regular season title with only five games to play and every other team carrying at least three leagues losses...

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Or this one if you wish:

Slugfest
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
February 8, 2009

It’s getting to be a common theme, but the nationally-ranked Aggies aren’t complaining too much.

No. 25 Utah State (22nd in the USA Today/ESPN poll) came into Saturday night’s game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum with Louisiana Tech as 17-point favorites. The hosts were up by that many on three occasions in the second half.

But as has been the case most of the season, it came down to the final minute to decide the outcome. Other than the one blemish way back in early December, the Aggies just keep winning.

USU’s Tyler Newbold made four free throws in the final 26 seconds as the Aggies held on for a 60-52 win in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,270.

“This game we kind of played in spurts,” said Newbold, who had 13 points and seven rebounds. “We need to get better and become more consistent. ... We cannot get comfortable.”

USU post Gary Wilkinson fully agreed with Newbold and added: “What has kept us winning is when things aren’t clicking offensively, we always find a way. We can’t trust in that, because we need to get it done on the boards and defensively...”

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Here Ron Tyler at A Closer Look at LATECH Hoops with his game analysis.

Greg Graham's squad went on the road and was impressive and a big thank you to the management at the Idaho Statesman for funding Nick Jezierny to cover the Broncos away from Boise:

Boise State men's basketball alone in second place
The Broncos beat the Spartans for the 14th consecutive time and benefit from Nevada's loss to New Mexico State.
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
2/08/09

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Boise State is back in second place in the WAC standings thanks to a first-rate effort Saturday night.

The Broncos jumped on San Jose State early, then withstood several charges by the home team to score an 89-83 win front of 2,281 fans at The Event Center.

It was the 14th consecutive win by the Broncos (16-6 overall, 6-3 WAC) against the Spartans (10-11, 4-6), and coupled with Nevada's home loss to New Mexico State, it put Boise State alone in second place in the WAC.

"You can't get to 16-6 by accident - you have to be good," San Jose State coach George Nessman said.

Calling the Broncos good early in the game would have been a disservice. Coach Greg Graham's team made six of its first eight shots and took a 27-12 lead.

"We came out fast," said Boise State junior Ike Okoye, who scored a team-high 22 points and blocked four shots. "We always try to come out strong, but then they matched our intensity."

The Spartans kept chiseling away at the Broncos' margin, thanks mostly to guard Adrian Oliver, a Washington transfer.

Oliver scored 23 of his career-high 37 points in the first half, when San Jose State closed to 45-44...

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