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Show SPORTS SECTION Dailyd Herald FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2006 SPORTS EDITOR| Darnell Dickson - 344-2555 - ddickson@heraldextra.com TOURNE as Rivals play spoiler again, dash BYU’s NCAAhopes RICH PEDRONCELLI/Associated Press Utah State's Nate Harris, left, grabs a rebound against San Jose State’s Jason Franchuk Demetrius Brown on Thursday. Utah State survives WAC quarterfinal DENVER — LukeNevill complained ofpain early Thursday, then became a huge one to BYU later that night in a 74-70 firstround win at the Mountain West Conference tournament. He finished with 29 points, including sevenin the deciding stretch. A short turn-around jumper inthe paint with 12 secondsleft produced the threepoint lead that couldn't be over- Scott Sonner come. It was BYU'sfirst loss this year when leadingwith five THE ASSOCIATED PRESS minutesleft. RashaunBroadushad a chanceat twofree throws with RENO,Nev. — Nate Harris led four playersin double figures with 19 points and 1] rebounds as Utah State hung on to beat San Jose State 76-69 Thursday to keep the 6.7 seconds remaining. But he madejustone. Johnnie Bryant(16 points) did advancingto the semifinals ofthe of hope. Broadus was fouled likewise, giving BYU a glimmer Aggies’ postseason hopesalive by Western Athletic Conferencetournament. again, and he madethefirst but chose to miss the second onpurpose becauseonly 4.4 seconds remained. Chaz Spicerscored15points, David Pak 12 and Jaycee Carroll Theplan almost worked. 11 for the Ag- Trent Plaisted found a loose ball on the ground. But Ucah gies (22-7), who made 18-of-20 prevailed, forcing a jumpball that rewardedit the possession free throws and used an 18-1 run arrow. Twomorefree throws sealedit to build a 37-25 UTAH ST. 76 Thursday could’ve been con- halftime lead. sidered a good barometerof SAN JOSE ST. 69 Harris made 7-0f-10 from. thefield andall five free-throw attempts to go with twoassists and two blocked shots. Demetrius Brownscored17 of his game-high 26 pointsin the second half for the Spartans (6-25), whoshotjust 28 percent from the field thefirst half but made a 10-0 run midway throughthe second howto handle a 10 p.m. game, DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/Associated Press if the Cougars had won. They Brigham Young guard Jimmy Balderson,right, picks up a loose ball as Utah guard Chris Grant comesin to cover during See COUGARS, C4 thefirst half of a quarterfinalin the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament in Denver on Thursday. ‘This time, close A closerlook half to pull to within 68-67 with 2:38 to go. Player ofthe Game Utah State, which has won 21 gamesor morein each ofthe past didn’t cut it for Cougs Luke Nevill, C, Utah seven seasons,will face Louisiana Tech(20-11) in Friday night's semifinal. The winnerof the league The redshirt freshman centerhad aninjured ankle andwasplaying despite trip to the hospital earlier in the day for chest pains. He came up Pointsand grabbing 14 othing comeseasyforthis BYU basketball team. I mean,geez,feelfree to mix in a blowoutoncein a while. Need faststart in conference play? Start out 2-3 and have to go uphill the rest of the way. ference tournament. But he was adamantthat more than one WAC * Playofthe Game winning 10-of-1] Mountain West team should be invited. Takeyourpick. It was Conference games? Try 6.7 points. with selection things,” said Morrill, whoseteam is in its first season in ing big shots down the Stretch, which wasthedifference in the game. tourneytitle gets an automatic invitation to the NCAAtourney. Utah State coach Stew Mor- rill declined to commentafter the gameon whether he thoughthis team deserves an at-largebid to the NCAAsif it fails to winthe con- | learned a long agohappen not to try“Iand predict whattime might big in the biggest game of his career, scoring 29 Average marginof victory in satis mak-i Nevilli consistently the WAC. Needa victory in the MWCtour- “A couple years ago, we were ranked in the top 25 and 17-1 in league (Big West Conference) and lost in the semifinals and wedidn’t ‘What it means get in. So we can't controlthat,” wins and is it the postseason,a fine feat. NIT, baby — doesn't have muchof ring to it, does it? But BYUstill has 20 he said. Morrill said the WACis every Darnell Dickson nament? Gotta fall behind by nine points, see, and struggle your way backdespite getting clobbered on the boards by a gutsy Utah team. Down by twowith only seconds The Front Row remaining, need a play? Didn't getit. Rashaun Broadus missed a free throw intentionally but BYU It’s like Halestorm made a horror movieandin the end, the mask of couldn't come up with the rebound. thekiller is pulled off ... and it’s Bry- ill's gangly form in every corner. ant Markson. Utah is in BYU's head. Wake up andthe alarm clockis playing “Utah See AGGIES, C4 DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/Associated Press. BYU's indkson Emery, right, works the ball inside See DICKSON, C4 Man.” The Cougarssee Luke Nev- against Utah’s Lawrence Borha on Thursday. HIGH SCHOOLSPORTS VOLLEYBALL BYU Everybodyloves a Top-rankedCougs visit No.E UC Irvine 900dlist ofpredictions “Match info BYU AT UC IRVINE ] tH Darnell Dickson DAILY HERALD || | Forthe second timethis season, the BYU men’svolleyball " played ina No.1 vs. No. 2 in fouryears. The top-ranked Anteaterssplit two matches with No. 2 Hawaii atIrvine in 2002. D Records: No.1 BYU || team is headed for a No.1 vs (12-2, 142); No. 2UC | No. 2 showdown. : (202, 169) Sat- \ Cougars This time, the )irvine When:Tonightand whothough, have theitstarget urday, 8 p.m. MT || ontheir backs. Bren Center, Saturday at || » Radio/TV: None D The Word: BYU leads the overall series with UC | two matches this weekend in California. Tonight's 8 p.m. meeting will be at the Bren D Where: Friday at UCI's Crawford Court Irvine 28-5.... The last time UCIrvine beat BYU was during the 2000 season.... The Cougars lead the nation in team hitting percentage(.359). 4 vi || Top-ranked BYU (12-2 MPSF,14-2 overall) meets No. | 2UC Irvine (10-2,16-3) for Yosleyder Cala = our student body will BYU's freshman answer the Sensation is averaging four" kills per game. call, too.” On Feb. 3, BYU was Center, and a crowdof over 3,000 is expected. On Saturday, the venue is Crawford Court, much more cozy setting that = ranked second when it met No.1 Pep _perdine in Provo. The Cougars wonthe first match 20-30, 30- seats about 800. 28, 30:22, 30-21 but Pepperdine “It's pretty exciting for the university and the community,” UCIrvine coach John Spe7% me PLS eed t rallied for a 28-30, 28-30, 30-32 sweep on the second night. UCIrvine, meanwhile, hasn't “This weekendis a huge deal,” BYU coach Tom Peterson said. “We'retied in the loss column and wehaveto win both to keep our hopes alive of hosting the MPSF championship. We'rereally the only two teams that hold their own destiny.” Withthe addition of talented freshman Yosleyder Cala and the steady play of setter Rob Nielson-and middle blocker Russell Holmes, BYU has won six straight matches sincethat loss to Pepperdine. But UCIrvine has been even See VOLLEYBALL, C2 | WWW.HERALDEXTRA:COM — CALL 375-5103 TOSUBSCRIBE. ¥ uiet please.I am lining up a 40-foot putt at Augusta. I am attempting a reverse three-and-a-half som- ersault — degree ofdifficulty 3.8. Judges I await your scores WhatI am aboutto dois the most difficult thing in sports. It’s tougher than finding someone who believes Barry Bonds. It’s moredifficult than beating the Zuke, more improbable than American Forkassistant coach Bob Eckles going through an anne season without a technic I am about to predict what A boppea ii n high school baseNe Netwieee just each team will finish — everyone does that. I will attempt to predict how Neil K. Warner Prep Points many home runs Lone Peak’s Billy Burgess will hit. How many runs Timpanogos’ Austin Heaps will drive in and how many wins Spanish Fork’s Jace See WARNER, C7 nel |