Basketball GameThread: Boise State vs Nevada

Boy, the Broncos and Wolf Pack sure like playing for first-place. Tonight, your Broncos (17-8) will head to the Jerry "The King" Lawlor Events Center in disappointing Reno, Nevada as they try to both avenge an earlier loss to Eric Musselman's resurgent squad AND recapture first place in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack (21-6) had little trouble with the Broncos at Taco Bell Arena their last time out and dealt the Broncos their worst defeat of the season 76-57. Primarily, Boise State struggled in the paint as Nevada's Cam Oliver set up a shot-blocking clinic and the outside shots refused to fall as Nevada got hot late and pulled away. Hopefully, the Broncos have a better game plan in place for tonight's tussle and of course, harness a bit more luck as well. Last weekend against Wyoming, Chandler Hutchison and Paris Austin combined for 52 points and would do well to repeat that feat if they want to sink Nevada's battleship.

How to watch

This game will rather fortuitously be featured on ESPN3 a half hour from now, so anyone with an ESPN account or the password of a friend's should be able to watch tonight's matchup. The game is available on WatchESPN.com or the ESPN app. Locally, you can listen to Bob Behler and Abe Jackson call the action on 670 KBOI if you've cut your cable (purposely or accidentally)

Betting lines

Despite the lopsided loss to Nevada on January 25th, the Broncos are only 4.5 point dogs this evening. I'm still not taking that bet.