Tonight's winners and losers

The biggest score tonight is Nevada's 84-71 homecourt victory over Utah State:

Nevada knocks off Utah State, 84-71
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
February 28, 2009

Coming off a sub-par game by his standards, Nevada point guard Armon Johnson arrived at Lawlor Events Center earlier than usual before the Wolf Pack’s game against Utah State on Saturday night.
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The motivation was to iron out some shooting problems he felt he had in a loss to Fresno State on Thursday.

The result was scoring a game-high 28 points — raining in shots from all over the court — in Nevada’s 84-71 drubbing of newly minted WAC champ Utah State in front of 8,515 fans...

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But Louisiana Tech's victory over Boise State in Ruston is also pretty big:

Louisiana Tech hands Boise State men third straight setback
The Broncos commit 21 turnovers and allow the Bulldogs' James Loe to score a career-high 23 points.
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
3/01/09

RUSTON, La. - The Boise State men's basketball team has reached a new Loe.

Louisiana Tech guard James Loe, who entered Saturday night's game averaging a meager 4.1 points per game, scored a career-high 23 to lead his team to a 76-62 win over the Broncos in front of 3,955 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

It was the third loss in a row for Boise State (17-10 overall, 7-6 WAC). The Broncos hadn't lost three consecutive games since dropping the final three of the regular season in 2007.

"My concern is that we are out of sync out right now," Boise State coach Greg Graham said.

And out of third place, too. The loss dropped the Broncos into fourth place in the conference, a half game behind New Mexico State and a half game ahead of fifth-place Idaho...

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San Jose State eked by Hawaii. Here's our game writeup:

It's San Jose State by two, 61-59

Semper paratus is the motto of the United States Coast Guard. It's also something coaches preach incessantly although sometimes to ears that are deliberately deaf. But 'always ready' is great advice for any situation and DaShawn Wright put this in action Saturday in helping to set up a 61-59 San Jose State victory over visiting Hawaii.

Wright had played just 93 minutes in conference games this season but it was his putting himself in the right place at the right time that enabled the Spartans to emerge victorious.

With the score tied at 59 and 9.4 seconds on the clock, Wright blocked a layup attempt by 6-9 Bill Amis but was called for a foul. However, Amis ultimately missed both free throw attempts and the long rebound was batted around until Wright seized it and shot a pass to Adrian Oliver who was streaking up the right sideline. Oliver was just ahead of his pursuers and deliberately fouled (his jersey was grabbed from behind) which resulted in two made foul shots by him (the winning points) and San Jose State retaining possession of the ball...

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Idaho managed a road win over Fresno State:

Foul line a big hurt in Dogs' latest loss
Bulldogs lose to Idaho on O'Neil's senior night
Daniel Lyght
The Fresno Bee
February 28, 2009

Fresno State guard Dwight O'Neil chomped on his gum and stepped to the free-throw line to practice his stroke at halftime of Saturday night's game against Idaho.

The senior made a few, then missed two, and shook his head at assistant coach Senque Carey, who was rebounding the ball for him. Carey threw him a nod of encouragement and O'Neil hit his next three.

The entire team could have used the same exercise as the Bulldogs missed 13 of 24 free throws, including two with 40 seconds to play, and lost this season's final home game 71-68 on senior night...

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