By MIKE HABURA
Thanksgiving week provided an abundance of Mountain West Conference hoops with teams traveling to holiday tournaments around the country. Here are five takeaways from this week’s holiday hoops action:
1. Boise State gains valuable experience against top ranked opponents
After notching a 71-64 victory over undefeated UC Irvine, Boise State ended the week with losses against No. 2 Michigan State and No. 13 Arizona. This is the first year the Broncos have played three nonconference games against ranked opponents. According to coach Leon Rice, the trip was a valuable learning experience before the Broncos start conference play. “It’s a Boise team that’s trying to find its identity. We don’t have enough guys stepping up and taking a role and figuring out what their role has to be. We had too many mental lapses.” The Broncos have struggled to play consistent defense. They currently rank last in the conference in opponent field goal percentage.
2. UNLV takes fifth in loaded Maui Invitational tournament, tops No. 22 Indiana
Despite a heartbreaking two-point defeat against UCLA in the opening round of the Maui Invitational, UNLV left the island smiling. The Runnin’ Rebels compiled a 2-1 record on the trip, including a marquee win over the Hoosiers. Sophomore Pat McCaw led the team averaging 20.8 points, five assists, and nearly four steals per contest. The Rebels’ biggest surprise was a career-high 16 points from junior transfer Ben Carter. Carter also came up big on the defensive end as he blocked a three-point attempt that could of sent the game into overtime. In order for the Rebels to continue their success, they will need to find consistency at the free throw line. Only three of nine Rebel regulars are shooting above 62 percent from the stripe.
3. Winston Shepard, San Diego State Aztecs struggle to find consistency in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, the Aztecs made a convincing argument that they are the top team in California. After a Thanksgiving night victory over Cal, the Aztecs have won 43 straight non-conference games against in-state schools. Shepard helped SDSU top the Bears with a 15-point second half. Friday, Shepard and the Aztecs struggled against a relentless West Virginia defense. SDSU’s 22-point loss started with a sluggish first half in which they were held to five field goals and turned the ball over fourteen times. Shepard finished the night shooting 1-for-7 from the field. The Aztecs have used three different starting lineups in seven games this year. The latest set of starters does not include seniors Shepard and Skylar Spencer.
4. Cowboys’ Josh Adams is the real deal
Josh Adams recorded his fourth consecutive 20-point game for the Wyoming Cowboys in a home victory against Montana State Saturday evening. The senior guard tallied a career-high 36 points earlier in the week and is leading the conference with 24.6 points and 3.2 three point buckets per game. The defending Mountain West tournament champions are 4-2 heading into their third week of non-conference action.
5. Colorado State falls in Corpus Christi Coastal Classic championship
A season-high 21 turnovers, including eight in the first nine possessions of the second half, cost the Rams a win over UTEP in the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic championship game. The Rams’ also struggled from beyond the arc missing 29 of 41 three-point attempts. Despite the teams’ struggles, senior guard Gian Clavelli had a career high 35 points and 10 rebounds. In the tournament opener, the Rams dominated Portland in a 90-74 win.
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