Basketball GameThread: Boise State vs Utah State

The Broncos are back in the friendlier confines of Taco Bell Arena tonight after a successful two-game road stretch that saw them take down both Wyoming and Colorado State. The Broncos haven't played in Boise since January 25th when they were summarily stomped by the Nevada Wolf Pack. At the time, that game had huge implications as the victor became the lone first place MWC team. Nevada got those spoils, but the tonight's visitors, Utah State, spoiled Nevada's plans of running away with the conference and dealt them a lopsided victory in Logan last week. Now, the Broncos and Wolf Pack are again knotted up at the top of the conference and New Mexico is nipping at their heels.

Utah State (10-11) may be 7th in the MWC standings, but perhaps no team in the conference is riding the kind of momentum the Aggies are right now having just beaten first-place Nevada, and Fresno State...the only conference team to beat Nevada, until the Aggies did it. You might recall also that Fresno State team had little trouble with the Broncos in mid-January. All this is to say the Broncos (14-7) better be very wary of this Aggie team. To dispatch the visiting Aggies, the Broncos will need to slow down senior Jalen Moore and fab frosh Koby McEwen, who are both pitching in over 15 points and 5+ rebounds per contest. The latter has specifically been sensational of late, having dropped 26 and 22 on Nevada and Fresno State, respectively.

How to watch

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 via WatchESPN and the ESPN app. You can also listen to some local flavor with Bob Behler and Abe Jackson on the call at 670 KBOI. Mr. Damien Alambra should also be courtside for OBNUG live-tweeting the proceedings and bringing you the (hopefully jubilant) post-game presser.

Betting line

Boise State by 8.