Tournament has featured
many OT classics

RENO, Nev. » Fresno State's 84-81 quarterfinal victory over Louisiana Tech last night brought back memories of some of the more exciting overtime games in the WAC tournament's history.

Hawaii fans will remember the 2001 final in Tulsa, Okla., when freshman Carl English made a layup while falling with 2 seconds left in regulation to tie the host Golden Hurricane. English then scored seven points in overtime and UH took the championship with a 78-72 win.

Rainbows faithful will want to forget the 2000 semifinal encounter against Fresno State, when the Bulldogs' Demetrius Porter hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left in the second OT and FSU won 103-100.

"This is the fun time of the year," said Fresno State coach Ray Lopes, who denied speculation he is in the running for the Tulsa coaching job. "Every time you take the court, it's a 40-minute season. The best teams don't win. The teams that play the best for 40 minutes do."

Or, in the case last night, 45 minutes.

Fresno State, which trailed by 13 late in the first half last night, plays Boise State tonight in a semifinal.

Exit wounds: In the first three days, several of the teams from the four schools that are leaving the league for Conference USA after this year were dealt early losses in their final tournament.

In women's games, Boise State knocked out Texas-El Paso and San Jose State beat Rice. The Miners and Owls are both headed for C-USA after this year.

The Boise State men beat Tulsa, and SMU was knocked off by fellow conference-departee Rice.

UTEP and SMU played without WAC insignias on their uniforms.

New Mexico State, Idaho and Utah State enter the WAC for 2005-06.

Magic number?: UTEP made the NCAA Tournament with 24 wins last year. The Miners are 24-7 with their win against Hawaii yesterday, and coach Doc Sadler said that should be enough to get an at-large invitation. But you never know.

"Our schedule is stronger this year," Sadler said. "Our victories are more impressive, but I don't know. They've (the tournament selection committee) got a tough job. We just have to do whatever we can."

Harris dominates: Like most teams, SMU had no answer for Rice forward Michael Harris. He scored 24 points with eight rebounds in the Owls' 63-47 quarterfinal win over the Mustangs yesterday.

Rice meets UTEP in a semifinal today. The Miners swept the Owls in the regular season.

Layups: Retired Detroit Pistons great Joe Dumars, president and general manager of the Pistons, was on hand to evaluate talent along with several other scouts. ... The Rainbows were scheduled to leave Reno this morning and arrive in Honolulu a little after 2 p.m., on Aloha Airlines flight 277.