New Mexico State (16-14) Vs. Boise State (19-11)
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GAME NOTES: A rematch between the two teams that played to triple-overtime in last year's Western Athletic Conference Tournament title game takes place at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno this afternoon, as the New Mexico State Aggies and Boise State Broncos relive old memories. Last year at this time, BSU picked up its first WAC tourney trophy with an incredible 107-102 battle that went a full 15 more minutes in order to decide the winner. This year the fourth-seeded Broncos, like fifth-seeded NMSU, finished the regular season with a record of 9-7 versus the rest of the conference, but BSU lost some leverage in the final weeks with four losses in the last six games. However, one of the two wins during that stretch did come against New Mexico State in a wild 104-92 decision at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces. As for the Aggies, they managed to snap a two-game slide to close out the regular season on Saturday night with a 70-59 triumph over Hawaii in Honolulu. NMSU has appeared in each of the last two championship games in this tourney, beating Utah State by just two points in the 2007 edition. BSU won both regular season meetings between the two squads this year and has closed the gap in the all- time series to 11-9 as it still favors the Aggies. The winner of this game will be in action on Friday in the semifinals and will face the winner of the Fresno State/Utah State bout.
Although he is just a sophomore, Jahmar Young made a huge impact on the Aggies and the WAC this season by leading the league in scoring with his 18.1 ppg. Because of his efforts, which included 46.3 percent shooting from the field, 42.5 percent beyond the arc and 81.6 percent at the charity stripe, Young was named to the All-WAC First Team, giving the Aggies a player in that exclusive group for the third straight year. Again one of the better scoring teams in the conference with 76.4 ppg, the Aggies always had the potential to put big numbers on the scoreboard, but at the same time the team can give those right back by allowing 74.6 ppg as well. Jonathan Gibson checks in with 13.8 ppg, Troy Gillenwater 12.4 ppg and Wendell McKines another 12.2 ppg, with the latter also earning a place as one of only a few in the college ranks to average a double-double with his team-best 10 rebounds per game as well.
For a team that it scoring 72.8 ppg, it is somewhat unusual not to have a single player hitting for more than 13 ppg, but in the case of the Broncos that is exactly what has happened in 2008-09. Mark Sanchez is the leader in the scoring department with his 12.8 ppg, making good on 50.8 percent of his field goal attempts, and is also first on the glass with better than seven boards per game. Paul Noonan checks in with 10.7 ppg and has been responsible for more three-point baskets (54-of-155) than anyone else on the roster. As someone who has been both a starter and a significant contributor off the bench, Kurt Cunningham and his 9.8 ppg have been invaluable, What's more, Cunningham is one of the most accurate shooters in not just the WAC but the entire nation with his 68.9 percent effort from the field, a level of proficiency that even goes beyond his 68.5 percent at the charity stripe thus far.
Obviously, after the most recent meeting between these two teams, the Broncos have the potential to lift the lid offensively, but the same goes for NMSU and revenge will be a bit of a factor in this contest.
Predicted OutcomeNew Mexico State 87, Boise State 81Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.
