[jwplayer jF5wU66N-sNi3MVSU]
Day three results are monumental for many reasons.
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Top two seeds survive.
SEMIFINALS ONE: San Diego State tops Nevada, 77-70
The top seed in the Mountain West tournament survives, gracing another Mountain West championship bid for the third consecutive season.
I’m surprised, this game wasn’t all that competitive, SDSU was leading for double-figures for a majority of the 2nd half. Anytime Nevada looked to be making a push, it didn’t last for long, San Diego State answered every single time.
The buy-in point for Nevada was the elite offensive play, but Nevada went 9-30 from-the-field, odds are when the top-two scorers on the roster (Sherfield & Cambridge) struggle to that level, the game will be tough.
Newly-reigned Mountain West player of the year Matt Mitchell had a fantastic game, scoring 24 points, while hauling in eight rebounds. Simply a masterful outing by Mitchell.
Deep-range assassin Jordan Schakel got 15 points, while raining in three triples.
San Diego State forges on.
https://twitter.com/MountainWest/status/1370601792371789825?s=19
SEMIFINALS TWO: Utah State holds off Colorado State, 62-50
This semifinal game was far from aesthetically pleasing, considering it’s one of CSU’s worst offensive showings of the season, shooting only 25% from-the-field, and only nailed four triples.
Just came-out flat & didn’t perform to their normal level, unfortunately in March that’s a tough to have your worst game. Partially due to simply missing shots, but Utah State’s tight defense didn’t make life easy on the perimeter, but Neemias Queta threw a late-night block party swatting away nine shots, in addition to 18 PTS, 14 RBS. A dominating game for Utah State’s star.
For CSU, it’s a tough loss in terms of getting into the NCAA Tournament given the small-margin for error. You’d have to assume the Colorado State faithful will be fans of Colorado & Creighton tomorrow, trying to prevent Georgetown & Oregon State from stealing bids.
If Utah State loses tomorrow, I’d imagine they still make the NCAA Tournament as a last-four-in. Firmly on the bubble, but they picked up a massive win today. A win tomorrow cements their claim as an auto-bid.
https://twitter.com/USUBasketball/status/1370640314264817664?s=19
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