WAC bracket
RENO, Nev. -- Jonathan Gibson scored 22 points and Jahmar Young and Hernst Laroche each had 16 to lead New Mexico State past Boise State 80-70 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament.
Wendell McKines added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Aggies (17-14), who used a pressure defense the second half to advance to Friday's semifinal against top-seeded Utah State (28-4), which beat Boise State 80-70 on Thursday.
Mark Sanchez scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Anthony Thomas had 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range for the fourth-seeded Broncos (19-12).
Thomas made three 3-point shots in a five-minute span to help Boise State take a 23-16 lead that grew to 30-20 on Jamar Greene's 3-pointer 8:12 before the half. But the Aggies answered with a 12-2 run -- capped by back-to-back 3-point goals by Laroche and Gibson - to make it 32-32 and led 38-36 at the half.
Gibson made his first three attempts from 3-point range in the second half to help put New Mexico State ahead for good 56-48 with 11 minutes left in the game.
