Your Sunday game reports of Saturday night's contests

Ethan Conley of The News Star has the report of LAT's victory over visiting Nevada:

Nevada Wolf Pack defeated by Louisiana Tech
Ethan Conley
The News Star
January 2, 2010

There’s a long list of ways that Kyle Gibson can win games for Louisiana Tech. There’s clutch scoring, playmaking, defense and leadership. He added offensive rebounding to the list in Saturday’s 77-71 win over Nevada in front of 2,088 fans at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Tech was clinging to a narrow lead in the game’s final minutes, and a propensity for missed free throws was making the task much harder than it should have been. But Gibson cleaned up the mess...

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray has some analysis:

Five quick observations from Pack's loss to Tech
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
1/2/2010

Here are five quick observations from Nevada's 77-71 loss to Louisiana Tech in the WAC opener for both teams. Like most of you, I watched the game from the friendly confines of my home on television. We had a freelance writer from Louisiana at the game and his coverage will be in tomorrow's paper...

Go here for the remainder.

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Sam Wasson provides the details of New Mexico State's grinder of a win over the northern Aggies. Who expected both teams to be in the 5os at games end?

Aggies Open WAC Play By Beating Utah State 55-52
Sam Wasson
BleedCrimson.net
1/02/2010

New Mexico State opened up league play with a 55-52 victory over visiting Utah State on Saturday night to improve to 8-6 overall but more importantly 1-0 in league play. The Aggies have won five straight games and snapped Utah State's four game win streak. Utah State held a 9-3 lead with 14:53 left to play but New Mexico State responded with a 17-4 run over the next six minutes to take a 20-13 lead. Utah State went on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes. New Mexico State outscored Utah State 5-2 over the final 3:50 of the half and took a 27-24 lead into halftime...

Go here for the remainder.

He also has game photos here.

Jason Groves offers his take:

New Mexico State men edge Utah State in WAC opener
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
1/03/2010

With his team desperate for a bucket, Jonathan Gibson scored when needed most to help New Mexico State hold off Utah State 55-52 on Saturday at the Pan American Center.

The Aggies senior guard ended a scoring drought that lasted over six minutes with a jumper from the elbow with 16.2 seconds left to provide the winning margin and give the Aggies a win in their Western Athletic Conference opener.

"I think that the guys showed a lot of heart down the stretch," said Aggies coach Marvin Menzies, whose club moved to 8-6 and 1-0 in league play. "For us to be able to go into those last few minutes with a lead was a big plus and then maintaining it and getting great defensive possessions was even a bigger plus."

Go here for the remainder.

Shawn Harrison was on the road for the game -- big hat tip to HJ management -- and has this:

Utah St. can’t quite deliver
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
January 3, 2010

Possessions became extremely valuable as the final minutes ticked off the clock late Saturday night at the Pan American Center.

Neither Utah State nor New Mexico State could get into an offensive rhythm as Western Athletic Conference play began with a tight, down-to-the-wire contest between the leagues’ Aggies. The hosts held off a late rally by USU to escape with a 55-52 win in front of 5,070 fans...

Go here for the remainder.

Tony Jones blogs his post game thoughts here.

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Steve Cleveland's squad kept the trend going as the 'Dogs topped BSU at home:

'Dogs buck Broncos
George leads Fresno State rally to beat Boise State in WAC opener.
Bryant-Jon Anteola
The Fresno Bee
January 2, 2010

The signs were all there and Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland couldn't help but smile.

These are things Cleveland has long searched for out of his men's basketball team -- a budding star who appears to be maturing to another level and a young team that's doing the same.

Sophomore Paul George shook off a slow start by responding with a pair of three-point plays in the final minute -- including the winning points with 15 seconds remaining -- and Fresno State picked up its first close-game victory of the season in beating Boise State 71-68 on Saturday night in a Western Athletic Conference opener.

George failed to make a field goal for nearly the first 35 minutes, but he scored 10 of Fresno State's final 14 points. He finished with a team-high 21 points...

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Nick Jezierny was on the road -- a big tip o' the hat to IS management for this -- and offers this game report:

Boise State men's basketball squanders chance to steal road win
The Broncos lead most of the way, but Bulldogs rally late to win the WAC opener for both teams.
Nick Jezierny
Idaho Statesman
1/03/10

It took one minute to spoil one of the Boise State men's basketball team's best games of the season.

The Broncos led host Fresno State for 31 consecutive minutes Saturday night at The Save Mart Center, but couldn't seal the deal and dropped a 71-68 decision in front of 7,983 fans.

"Statistically, we did fine," said coach Greg Graham, whose team had twice as many assists (18) as turnovers (nine), shot 45.5 percent and went 7-of-20 from 3-point range. "But we didn't make enough plays at crunch time..."

Go here for the remainder.

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Idaho broke the string by grabbing a win in Hawaii.

Vandals strike Hawaii
Cold front moves in over Mānoa as 'Bows lose WAC opener, 59-52
Dayton Morinaga
Honolulu Advertiser
January 3, 2009

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team was as cold as ... Moscow, Idaho, last night.

As a result, the Rainbow Warriors lost their Western Athletic Conference season opener, 59-52, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"Offensively, we just couldn't really knock down shots, that's really what it came down to," Hawai'i center Paul Campbell said. "Fifty-nine points on defense is a great job, 52 points on offense isn't..."

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Brian McInnis was also present.

Hopson, Idaho halt Hawaii
Brian McInnis
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
January 3, 2009

Little Mac had all the right punches this time.

Idaho's lithe point guard Mac Hopson knocked out Hawaii with a season-high 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting as the Vandals dispatched the Rainbow Warriors 59-52 last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

In the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams, a crowd of 3,609 saw the Rainbows (7-7, 0-1 WAC) rally to get back off the mat after looking down for the count at the 28-minute mark...

Go here for the remainder.

Travis Mason-Bushman checks in from Vandal Nation territory.