Idaho Can End Mystery With Win Over Boise State

Sat., Feb. 28, 1998

By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com (509) 459-5585

The Idaho men’s basketball team could eliminate all the mystery tonight.

Or not.

The Vandals (15-10 overall, 9-6 Big West) will claim the Eastern Division’s third seed at next week’s Big West tournament with a win over Boise State tonight at the BSU Pavilion.

BSU (16-12, 8-7) would be eliminated.

However, a Vandals loss clouds the picture. Here are the scenarios, should UI lose:

If New Mexico State (18-11, 8-7) wins at Nevada on Sunday, the Aggies go to the tourney as the third seed and BSU is fourth. Idaho doesn’t qualify.

A New Mexico State loss leaves BSU No. 3 and Idaho No. 4. The Aggies would miss the tourney.

Idaho would prefer to avoid this route because it would face Western Division champion Pacific (20-8) in Friday’s opening round in Reno.

This might be the easiest way to explain matters: If Idaho wins, it’s in. If BSU wins, it’s in. If New Mexico State wins, it’s in. No ifs, ands or buts.

Less than 500 tickets remain for tonight’s game. The Pavilion seats 12,200.

Utah State, the Eastern Division champ, lent the Vandals a helping hand by edging New Mexico State in overtime late Thursday night. Had New Mexico State won, UI would have been forced to win tonight to qualify.

Nevada is the No. 2 seed.

NIC on road

North Idaho College closes the regular season tonight in Rexburg, Idaho, its new home away from home.

The Cardinals face Ricks in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. NIC will stay in Rexburg until the Region 18 tournaments. The women’s tourney begins Wednesday.

NIC’s women (21-5, 12-5 Scenic West Athletic Conference) face No. 1 Ricks (26-2, 15-2). NIC can finish second outright with a win because Southern Idaho (20-8, 11-7) lost Friday night.

Win or lose, NIC’s men (16-12, 6-11) will be the seventh seed. Games elsewhere will determine the Cards’ first-round opponent - likely Dixie or Southern Idaho.

CSI won at Dixie Friday night to take over the SWAC’s top spot.

NIC’s oft-injured center Steven Ryan won’t play against Ricks, but he’s expected to rejoin the team for the regionals.

, DataTimes

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Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
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Idaho Can End Mystery With Win Over Boise State

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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