5:18 p.m. -- Attendance at the tournament has been disappointing and today's women's final was no exception. Even with host New Mexico State in the game, only 2,822 fans showed up.

The All-Tournament team for the women:

Tasha Harris, Boise State; Emma Andrews, Fresno State; Tierre Wilson, Fresno State; Jalessa Ross (MVP), Fresno State; and Anikia Jawara, New Mexico State.

2:36 p.m. -- Boise State plays New Mexico State for the WAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth tonight at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Broncos have lost both meetings with the Aggies this season and six straight overall to New Mexico State.

If the Broncos are to snap that streak — and end their NCAA Tournament drought — the Broncos must:

1. Rebound -- New Mexico State dominated Nevada on the boards in Friday's semifinal, grabbing 52 rebounds (23 offensive) to Nevada's 25 rebounds.

In New Mexico State's 99-80 victory in Las Cruces in February, the Aggies outrebounded Boise State 50-28. In the team's first meeting this season, a 76-73 NMSU win in Boise in January, the Aggies outrebounded Boise State 41-29, including 14-1 on the offensive glass.

The Broncos must close that gap to win tonight.

2. Hit 3-pointers -- In their tournament victories, the Broncos have made 20-of-35 3-point attempts. That's 57.1 percent.

If the Broncos can extend that hot streak one more game, they might be dancing.

3. Keep their composure -- The crowd will be raucous in favor of the host Aggies. The Broncos have had success on the road winning 13-of-16 games away from Taco Bell Arena.

In Friday's victory against Utah State, the Broncos did a good job of keeping their cool. At various times, Reggie Larry walked over to Matt Nelson to keep him cool; Nelson calmed down Matt Bauscher, and Bauscher talked to Larry in a heated moment.

It has been a point of emphasis for the team throughout the week.

"More than anything with three games in three days, we've got to be on focus (and) together more than ever," Bauscher said Wednesday. "We can't let anything get within our group."

Friday, March 14

8:01 p.m. -- Boise State is one victory away from the NCAA Tournament, having defeated Utah State 88-78 at the WAC Tournament in Las Cruces.

7:53 p.m. -- Time is not Utah State's friend, but the Aggies are certainly making the most it. Utah State has done a good job of extending the game. Of course, it helps when Jaycee Carroll is making back-to-back 3-pointers.

Boise State leads 81-73 with 1:32 remaining.

7:43 p.m. -- Time is running out on Utah State. With 3:33 remaining, the Broncos lead 73-62.

Amazing how quiet the normally boisterous Utah State student section has gotten.

7:25 p.m. -- These semifinal games have started to take on an NCAA Tournament feel. In the tournament, coaches try to manage the game in four-minute increments.

(There is a media timeout every four minutes.)

That means trying to get players out of the game less than a minute before the media timeout to buy them extra rest. Or trying to buy a few extra minutes with subs in the game, knowing the media timeout is coming. Or using your timeouts differently.

Boise State is up 64-48 at the under 12:00 media timeout.

7:16 p.m. -- Not sure what to say. The Broncos are playing fantastic basketball, leading 57-43 with 15:41 remaining in the second half.

All five starters have scored in the second half already — a testament to the Broncos' unselfish play and confidence.

6:49 p.m. -- Matt Bauscher has 15 points. Aaron Garner has 11 or the same as Jaycee Carroll. And the Broncos are making their 3-point shots. That about sums up the first half.

BSU leads 42-37.

6:44 p.m. -- Aaron Garner is on fire. The reserve guard has 11 points, including eight straight, for the Broncos in the first half.

Garner had scored 12 points in his last 10 games before tonight.

6:32 p.m. -- Tied 24-24 with 7:57 to go.

Aaron Garner is getting a lot of playing time in the first half as the Broncos try to find someone to slow down Jaycee Carroll. Jamar Greene, who left the quarterfinal game with Hawaii because of illness, has not played yet.

6:19 p.m. -- Lots of thoughts from the Boise State women's game and its post-game press conferences. But the Bronco men are on the court against Utah State, so that discussion will have to wait.

The attendance is pathetic in Las Cruces. I'd say there are less than 2,500 fans in the Pan American Center for this game.

4:34 p.m. -- New Mexico State leads 71-66 with 1.6 seconds remaining and the Aggies are shooting free throws.

The Broncos' 15-game winning streak is over. An NIT bid is very likely for Boise State.

4:32 p.m. -- New Mexico State stormed back in the second half — BSU once led by 19 — and now the Aggies are up 69-66 with 22.3 seconds remaining.

3:27 p.m. -- Jackie Lee (10) and Jenna Galassi (11) combined for 21 points in the first half as Boise State leads 44-30.

Sierra Moeller had three points, three rebounds and two blocks in the first half. In just eight minutes.

Tasha Harris and Jessica Thompson were 5-for-16 in the first half, but the role players around them were outstanding.

Freshman Danisha Corbett paced New Mexico State with eight first-half points including two big 3-pointers when the Aggies were struggling.

3:20 p.m. -- Impressive first half for Boise State. The Broncos lead New Mexico State 44-30.

The Broncos' offensive execution has been outstanding and freshman Sierra Moeller has given the team a huge boost inside.

Stats as they are available.

2:40 p.m. -- Typical starting lineup for the Broncos: Jessica Thompson, Tasha Harris, Jackie Lee, Jenna Galassi and Ja'Lara Walker.

Walker is the key to today's game. She must stay out of foul trouble and be productive in the low post.

2:32 p.m. -- Random thoughts while waiting for the Boise State-New Mexico State women's game to begin:

• How did the Swiss franc become more valuable than the American dollar?

• Who knew the Swiss monetary unit was called a franc?

• There goes my trip to Switzerland.

• Where would WAC basketball fans be willing to travel for the conference tournament? Reno? Las Vegas? Hawaii? Anaheim? Salt Lake City?

• First bad decision of the day: Skipped out on Mexican food with Nick Jezierny to get to the arena early.

• I'm sure it won't be the last.

• Worst thing about having your fantasy baseball draft three weeks before the season starts: Checking the daily injury report. Glad I didn't end up with Wily Mo Pena.

• Can't get over the unfairness factor of Boise State having to play at New Mexico State in the conference tournament. The tiny contingent of BSU fans is far outnumbered.

• You are not allowed to chant or cheer any profanities in the arena. Even if it is in Spanish.

• Boise State's cheerleaders have updated their uniforms for today's game. Unlike the 1950s era get-up they had on the first couple of days at the tournament, these uniforms pass for current.

2:28 p.m. -- Word from Las Cruces is that Lisa Parker, the ailing administrator and inspiration for the women's team, will be able to watch this game in Boise. I truly hope she can enjoy it.

2:21 p.m. -- The Fresno State women have advanced to the WAC Tournament title game and are one win away from their first-ever NCAA Tournament.

Somewhere Matt James is celebrating.

12:52 p.m. -- Semifinal Friday in underway here at the Pan American Center with top-seeded Fresno State and No. 5 seed Louisiana Tech battling in the first women's semifinal.

Check previous entries for news about Boise State coach Greg Graham's reported interest in the Oregon State job, the WAC's proposal to change the way its ESPN money is doled out and possible neutral sites for the WAC Tournament.

Thursday, March 13

8:55 p.m. -- Interesting nugget from WAC commissioner Karl Benson's 30-minute press conference Thursday: Benson said the league is considering lowering its football inconvenience fee.

Last year, the WAC received $900,000 from its television contract with ESPN. From that money, the league paid a $100,000 inconvenience fee to any team that hosted a non-Saturday television game. There were nine such games and six teams hosted.

So the entire rights fee was eaten up by the inconvenience fee and three schools — Louisiana Tech, Idaho and Utah State — did not get any money from the ESPN deal.

The league is considering lowering the fee to $50,000 or $75,000 this year to make sure every team gets a portion of the rights fee.

There are six non-Saturday televised games scheduled for 2008. So far. Boise State hosts three of them, San Jose State hosts two and Fresno State hosts one.

8:50 p.m. -- The Pan American Center is not close to full for tonight's New Mexico State-Idaho game. That's very disappointing for the league. Attendance was much better last season.

The league faces an interesting dilemma: Does it continue to hold the basketball tournament at campus sites or move to a neutral site, such as Salt Lake City, Las Vegas or Sacramento?

Or the Idaho Center in Nampa or Spokane, for that matter?

Fairness would dictate a move. Financial considerations, however, remain the reason on-campus sites keep getting picked. Reno will host the event in 2009 and 2010.

8:43 p.m. -- The Oregonian is reporting on its Web site that Boise State coach Greg Graham would listen to Oregon State about its vacant head-coaching position.

The Beavers went 6-25 this season, including 0-18 in the PAC-10. Graham is an Oregon graduate and former assistant coach with the Ducks.

3:03 p.m. -- Wanted to clear up something from Wednesday's column about Matt Nelson: Reggie Larry says that he did not get into an argument with Nelson during the Siena game. Instead he said he tried to play role of peacemaker, trying to keep a heated Nelson under control and in the game.

From where I was sitting in the stands, it looked as if the two were scuffling and others said similar things.

But I'll defer to Larry — who took Nelson aside during the second half of the Hawaii game to keep him positive.

For more on Larry, see Friday's editions of the Idaho Statesman.

3:00 p.m. -- Boise State advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Tournament with an 80-74 victory against Hawaii.

Reggie Larry paced the Broncos with 26 points and nine rebounds.

2:10 p.m. -- Broncos lead 71-67 with 66 seconds remaining. Should be a free throw contest the rest of the way. Not always a good sign for the Broncos.

1:53 p.m. -- It's tied 60-60 with 5:47 remaining in the second half at the Pan American Center.

A hunch: This one is going to come down to the final seconds.

1:44 p.m. -- Utah State fans, who are in the Pan American Center because the Aggies play next, wasted little time getting on Boise State center Matt Nelson.

Seated behind the Boise State basket, the fans chanted as Nelson attempted free throws. Nelson made 1-of-2.

1:35 p.m. -- Boise State came roaring back to start the second half, taking a 45-40 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers by Reggie Larry and Tyler Tiedeman.

1:02 p.m. -- Matt Nelson picked up two early fouls. Tyler Tiedeman picked up two early fouls. Anthony Thomas couldn't hold onto the ball.

And the Broncos are only down 35-27.

Things could be much, much worse for Boise State.

Of course, things could be better for the Broncos as well.

12:45 p.m. -- Turnovers are killing the Broncos. Point guard Anthony Thomas has four turnovers already. Hawaii leads 26-17.

12:28 p.m. -- Hawaii leads 14-11 after a disputed Matt Gibson jumper. Sure looked like the shot clock expired before he got the shot off.

Broncos are not playing with a lot of emotion or energy. They have five turnovers and eight field goal attempts.

12:18 p.m. -- Seldom-used reserve forward Shawn Rouse (shoulder injury) did not make the trip. Rouse played in 11 games this season, averaging 0.8 points per game.

Sluggish start: The Broncos turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions.

12:08 p.m. -- Usual starting lineup for the Broncos: Matt Nelson, Reggie Larry, Tyler Tiedeman, Matt Bauscher and Anthony Thomas.

12:07 p.m. -- Gonna miss "Lost" tonight. Thank you DVR.

12:01 p.m. -- From the Wow! department: Colorado State's women's basketball team, led by former Boise State coach Jen Warden, finished the regular season 0-16 in Mountain West Conference play.

But the Rams beat UNLV in the play-in game and Wednesday stunned 13th-ranked Utah, which was 16-0 in conference play during the regular season. Utah is 27-4.

Colorado State (4-27) entered the tournament on a 20-game losing streak before beating UNLV. The Rams are two wins away from a most improbable NCAA Tournament berth. CSU plays New Mexico in Friday's semifinals.

Utah is led by Idaho transfer Leilani Mitchell, which leads us to this story ...

11:06 a.m. -- Another problem for Idaho: Katie Madison, the leading scorer for each of the last two seasons, is leaving the women's basketball team, according to the Lewiston Tribune.

Wednesday, March 12

10:29 p.m. -- Boise State defeated Utah State 61-47 behind 19 points from Tasha Harris and 17 from Jessica Thompson. Jackie Lee added 12.

Former Vallivue High standout Jenny Gross scored nine points for Utah State.

10:20 p.m. -- After a little bit of a scare in the second half, Boise State has pulled away. The Broncos lead by 13 with less than 90 seconds remaining. This one is over.

I'm off to do interviews and will not be posting anymore tonight. Look for the blog Thursday when the Bronco men play Hawaii at noon.

The Bronco women will play New Mexico State on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

10:06 p.m. -- Jessica Thompson picked a good time to have a very good game. Thompson scored seven straight points to give the Broncos a 46-37 lead with 7:41 remaining. She now has 17 points.

This after shooting 1-for-19 from the field in her last two games.

10:01 p.m. -- Boise State leads Utah State 39-37 with 10:44 remaining in the second half. The Broncos have been unable to pull away from the Aggies.

9:37 p.m. -- Boise State leads 33-26 at halftime.

Guard Jessica Thompson, who has struggled in her last two games, had a big first half. Thompson, one for her last 19 from the floor, scored 10 first-half points.

8:58 p.m. -- Boise State center Ja'Lara Walker is wearing No. 44 instead of her usual No. 42. The reason: Her jersey was left behind in Boise.

The team always carries an extra jersey, in case of blood.

The new number seems to suit her. In five minutes against Utah State, Walker scored six points, grabbed two rebounds and had one blocked shot.

She did pick up two personal fouls and likely won't play the rest of the first half.

Boise State leads 20-12 with 10:29 remaining in the first half.

8:34 p.m. -- Results through three women's quarterfinal games:

No. 5 Louisiana Tech 82, No. 4 Nevada 56

No. 1 Fresno State 87, No. 9 San Jose State 76

No. 3 New Mexico State 55, No. 6 Hawaii 40

Louisiana Tech and Fresno State will meet Friday at noon. New Mexico State and the winner of tonight's Boise State-Utah State game will play Friday at 2:30 p.m.

8:32 p.m. -- The Bronco women are about to tip off their WAC Tournament against No. 7 seed Utah State. In two victories against the Aggies this season, Tasha Harris is averaging 18.5 points per game.

8:29 p.m. -- Sorry for neglecting the blog today. Been writing a column on Matt Nelson and the Boise State men's team for Thursday's print edition of the Idaho Statesman.

Nelson was very honest about his trouble controlling his emotions on the court.

"There is a line and I’ve definitely crossed it more than I’d like this season," Nelson said.

Emotion and intensity are going to play a big part in the Broncos' WAC Tournament chances.

Read more about Nelson and the Bronco men in Thursday's Idaho Statesman.

Tuesday, March 11

Results:

Women's play-in game:
No. 9 San Jose State 70, No. 8 Idaho 63

Men's play-in game:
No. 8 San Jose State 64, No. 9 Louisiana Tech 62

12:12 p.m. -- For those clamoring for Boise State to get rid of men's coach Greg Graham, consider this:

Graham just picked up his second coaching award of the week. Having already been honored by the WAC, Graham was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I District 13 Coach of the Year on Tuesday.

The Broncos, picked to finish fifth in the WAC, tied for the regular-season title with a 12-4 mark. Graham is the first Boise State coach to ever earn a NABC Coach of the Year award.

It seems to me it's getting tougher and tougher for the Broncos to do anything but give him a contract extension in the off-season. That, of course, could change if Boise State gets blown out by Hawaii in the first round of the WAC Tournament on Thursday.

12:04 p.m. -- Hello from Las Cruces, N.M.

It's a beautiful day down here, and we're just hours away from the start of the 2008 WAC Basketball Tournament at the Pan-American Center.

I'll be blogging throughout the tournaments (men and women). I'm predicting an unpredictable tournament as we've already seen around the country with San Diego taking the West Coast Conference title, George Mason taking the Colonial and South Alabama losing in the Sun Belt Tournament.

Back to the WAC: With the top of the league so tightly bunched — four teams tied for the regular-season crown — Friday's semifinals should be very entertaining. My pick is New Mexico State. The home team has a huge advantage.

On the women's side, it will come down to the top three seeds — Fresno State, Boise State and New Mexico State. One of those three will walk away with the crown. My pick is the Broncos, who have won 14 straight. They found a way to win the title last year and, I suspect, they will do it again.