Also for Friday: two game previews + more links

It's another night for fittin' slippers as the Lone Star State has a trio of teams in the WAC Final Four. Yep, don't mess with Texas.

Tonight begins with New Mexico State and Texas State going at it beginning at 6 p.m.

On January 5 in Las Cruces, the Aggies won 78-67 behind 22 points from Daniel Mullings, 20 from Sim Bhullar plus a 16/10 double-double from Bandja Sy. Joel Wright produced 17 points and Deonte' Jones 15 for the Bobcats. NMSU shot 54% for the game.

That same month on night 31, Coach Marvin Menzies' guys won 86-72 in Arlington. Sy led in both categories with 24/13, Mullings scored 22 and Bhullar totaled 10 and nine. Center Matt Staff led TS with a 20 point/10 rebound double-double with Corey Stern tallying nine points. Wright shot just 3-18 and totaled 14.

Aggie athletics previews as does Jason Groves. JasonG also provides an Idao  post-game interview with Daniel Mullings. Bleed Crimson is also all over the victory over the Vandals.

From the Bobcat perspective, Tyler Mayforth checks in.

It's hard to believe more magic will be in the air but how many thought there would be any before the start of the tournament? Can Texas State silence Sy, or at least mute him to a degree?

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Then at 8:30, it's duelin' Texans as Texas San Antonio matches up with Texas Arlington. The Mavericks won 75-67 on January 6 in San Antone plus 68-63 on February 9 at home. Kannon Burrage has 22 points and Michael Hale III 18 in the latter with Kevin Butler's 17 pacing the victors. His teammates Greg Gainey and Shaq White-Miller both totaled 13.

In the earlier matchup, Jordan Reves went for 21 points for the Alamo-ites versus 17 by Burrage, 16 from Larry Wilkins and Hale's 15.

Call this a toss-up but it's hard not to favor the defense played by the Mavericks.

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Kyle Goon and some of the Utah State players look back.

John Blanchette whacks the WAC.