We are back for the last game of the Quarterfianl round of the Mountain West Tournament. The Lobos (22-10) look to build on their second half against Wyoming, as they take on the 3 seed Utah State (24-7) in the second meeting between the two teams. In the first meeting the Aggies were able to find easy buckets around the rim, leading to a blow out win. The Lobos and Aggies have had some absolute battles in their MW Tournament Match-up.  I will be updating this as the game goes on.

Pregame Thoughts: The Lobos will look to get House and Mashburn Jr. in rythm early in the game. They were able to create separtion against Wyoming on Wednesday after House was able to turn Wyoming over and get in the open court. The Lobos will have the edge at the 5, but one thing to watch is how many times they leave Ashworth and their other shooters open. One thing that happened in the first meeting the Lobos would over play Ashworth and company leading to easy buckets for Bairstow and Akin. The Lobos will have the services of Jenkins after that scary moment last night.

15:40 1H: USU 13 Lobos 4. Taylor Funk with all 13 points for USU. If he keeps this up the Lobos will have no shot in this one. House already has 2 fouls for the Lobos. Have to find a way to get the ball to Udeze and get him going.

11:47 1H: USU 25 Lobos 14. Lobos have to find a way for someone other that Funk to beat them. He already has 19 points. Lobos have been able to find space for Mashburn Jr. and he has been hitting, already with 10 points for the Lobos. The Lobos will be fight foul trouble in the first half as House and Jenkins both have 2 foul. USU will be in the bonus for the rest of the first half.

6:52 1H: USU 33 Lobos 23. House will have 2 FTs after the TO. The Lobos have been able to turn USU over, but they are allowing too many open 3’s and USU is making them pay with SIX 3’s in the first 13:08 of the game. Lobos need to keep this under 10 heading into halftime.

3:51 1H: USU 38 Lobos 27. Udeze will have a 1-1 after the TO. He just missed the front end last possession. The Lobos have to get to halftime with House having only 2 fouls.

Halftime: USU 44 Lobos 33. Considering how that half started, the Lobos have to feel okay about where they stand with 20 to go. House got to halftime with only 2 fouls. The Lobos will have to limit Funk and Ashworth from 3.

15:37 2H: USU 53 Lobos 43. Lobos have been able to get their offense going in the second half. But a deep 3 by Funk and an Ashworth 3 have kept the Lobos at bay so far. The Lobos will have to find some open 3’s or it will be hard for them to make the comeback.

13:19 2H: USU 61 Lobos 45. Last play sums up the game pretty well. Jenkins has a 3 go all the way in and come out, leading to a USU basket on the other end. The Lobos are in the danger zone.

11:51 2H: USU 61 Lobos 47. Ashworth will have 3 FTs after the TO. Both House and Ashworth have picked up their 3rd fouls in the last couple of minutes.

7:43 2H: USU 75 Lobos 60. This was always going to be the Lobos problem in a Tournament setting, a team going insane from 3. Lobos are getting behind the 3 point line 12 (36) to 1 (3) for a minus 33. You aren’t going to win any games with that happening.

3:19 2H: USU 81 Lobos 69. Lobos have to get the pace up quickly to have any chance of getting back into this game. Can’t believe that Jenkins has had 5 points go all but in tonight.

Final: USU 91 Lobos 76. Lobos will play Post Season Ball for the first time since 2014. It’s been a fun year but the NCAA Tournament hopes die in Las Vegas. I hope that most of the team runs it back next year, I am excited for what year 3 has instore for Lobo Nation.