Feb. 8, 2006 - WAC race is shaping up for thrilling finish

Folks, we have ourselves a horse race.

That would be the call at the track, but this is basketball. Still, the Western Athletic Conference men’s division is shaping up for a thrilling finish down the stretch.

Utah State, Nevada and Louisiana Tech are all knotted on top at 7-3 in league play. Hawaii is a game behind at 6-4, while New Mexico State (5-4) and Boise State (5-5) are within striking distance.

“It’s going to be an exciting finish,” said Boise State head coach Greg Graham during the weekly WAC conference call.

New Mexico State head coach Reggie Theus concurred.

“I think the winner is going to have three or four losses,” Theus said. “... It’s hard to say who is going to win, because it will depend on schedules.”

The schedule tends to favor the Aggies (16-5 overall) and the Wolf Pack (17-5). USU gets to host Nevada and has just two more road games. The Wolf Pack host Louisiana Tech (14-9). The Bulldogs from Louisiana must go to New Mexico State (9-11) and Hawaii (12-8). The Warriors, who have not won on the road this season, must leave the island for four more conference games. NMSU plays at Nevada and USU this week, while the Broncos (12-9) have to play at NMSU, LTU and Fresno State (11-9, 4-5).

But anything can happen. Monday was a good example when Idaho (4-16, 1-8) ended its 10-game losing streak by beating Fresno State for its first-ever WAC victory.

San Jose State (5-16, 1-7) is now fighting with the Vandals to stay out of the WAC cellar.

BracketBusters times, dates set

The Aggies found out last week they will be hosting Northwestern State (15-6) in the fourth annual BracketBusters presented by eBay at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Tuesday they found out the day and time for the game. USU will take on the Demons on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8:05 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPNU, which can be found on DIRECTV on channel 609 and on the DISH Network on channel 148.

Other WAC teams playing on BracketBusters include Akron at Nevada (Feb. 17, 7 p.m. on ESPNU), Louisiana Tech at Southern Illinois (Feb. 18, 8 p.m. on ESPNU) and Fresno State at Creighton (Feb. 18, 10 p.m. on ESPN).

Aggies among best shooters

USU has moved up to second in the nation in both field goal percentage (50.8 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.9 percent). The Aggies trail Florida (52.5) in field goal percentage (52.5) and Indiana (43.1) in 3-pointers.

As a team, USU ranks fifth in the nation in assists per game (18.4), 14th in fewest fouls committed per game (15.4) and 30th in scoring margin (plus 10.2).

Individually, sophomore guard Jaycee Carroll ranks third in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 49.3 percent, trailing J. Robert Merritt of Samford (50.0) and Je’Kel Foster of Ohio State (49.5). Carroll, who set a new school and WAC record with 10 treys against New Mexico State last Thursday, is also 18th in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game at 3.3. Those 10 3-pointers by Carroll are the second-most made in a single-game in college basketball this year, behind Josh Goodwin of Belmont who drilled 11.

Other Aggies ranked among the national leaders include senior forward Nate Harris, who is seventh in the nation in field goal percentage at 62.2 percent, and senior guard David Pak, who ranks 49th in assists per game (5.0).