Thursday, March 12th, 11:30 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Lawlor Events Center (11,536) -- Reno, Nevada. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: LaTech 9-4, Idaho 12-3. Away Record: LaTech 5-11, Idaho 4-11. Neutral Record: LaTech 0-2, Idaho 0-0. Conference Record: LaTech 6-10, Idaho 9-7. Series Record: Louisiana Tech leads, 6-2.

GAME NOTES: Having won just one of four games played in previous Western Athletic Conference Tournaments, the Idaho Vandals find themselves slotted as the favorite as they contend against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the quarterfinal round of the 26th annual event at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno. The third-seeded Vandals made huge strides this season as they finished two games over .500 and were also an impressive 9-7 in league action. Perhaps most impressive was the manner in which Idaho closed out the regular season, taking three straight decisions and six of the last seven. As for the sixth- seeded Bulldogs, a team that has a record of just 2-7 in this tournament over the years, they too showed some punch in the final weeks by winning four in a row, before bowing to Idaho in Moscow on March 5th by a score of 66-58. Since the Vandals joined the conference just a few short years ago they have faced LaTech a total of eight times and trail in the all-time series by a count of 6-2. The teams earned a split of their two regular season games in 2008-09, with each winning at home. The squad that comes out on top in this event will move on to the semifinals on Friday versus the winner of the San Jose State/Nevada matchup.

A rather subdued offensive group this season, the Bulldogs generated a modest 62.9 ppg, partly because the group shot a mere 65.4 percent at the free-throw line. Another knock on Louisiana Tech is that it suffered far too many turnovers to be considered a threat on a daily basis. While logging just 326 assists over the course of 31 games, the Bulldogs were charged with an unsightly 472 miscues, many at the worst possible times. Kyle Gibson stood up and took charge at the offensive end of the floor with his 15.6 ppg, shooting an impressive 42.5 percent behind the three-point line. Jamel Guyton checked in with another 12.3 ppg and, along with Gibson, accounted for 131 of the unit's 170 three-point baskets on the season. While the duo loomed out on the perimeter quite a bit, the Bulldogs asked Magnum Rolle to handle the inside and he did so to the tune of 11.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest in 2008-09.

The second consecutive Idaho player to be named to the WAC's All-Newcomer Team, Mac Hopson was the driving force for the Vandals this season as he did a lot of scoring and a little bit of everything else to push this team to new heights. Hopson, who also became the first Vandal to be named to an all- conference first team since Gordon Scott turned the trick almost a decade ago when the program participated in the Big West Conference, accounted for 16.6 ppg to place among the best in the WAC, shooting not only 46.2 percent form the floor but also an impressive 45.9 percent behind the three-point line. Just as important as his points, Hopson also took it upon himself to make sure that his teammates were also taken care of, handing out 174 assists over the course of his 30 starts. Add in 5.0 rpg and a team-best 55 steals and it is difficult to find someone who was more valuable to his team in the Western Athletic.

It almost sounds odd, saying that the Vandals are clearly the favorite in this meeting, but make no mistake, Hopson makes Idaho run smooth and should have the Vandals running right into the next round of this tourney.

Predicted Outcome

Idaho 68, Louisiana Tech 57