Broncos’ unlikely
run continues

Boise State scores second straight
WAC tournament upset

RENO, Nev. » People are gradually getting used to the idea of Boise State being a dominant force in football.

But as a basketball school?

One night after knocking top-seed and No. 24 Nevada out of its own Lawlor Events Center, the eighth-seeded Broncos sent fourth-seeded Fresno State packing last night in the WAC tournament semifinals, again in dramatic fashion, 86-85.

The Broncos aren't quite a perennial hardwood power by any means. But if their performance so far here is a clue, they're on the right road to respectability -- and maybe even the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.

Coby Karl -- who went 0-for-11 from the field -- made two free throws with 8 seconds left for the difference last night.

"We were fortunate we got the right play at the right time," Broncos coach Greg Graham said, after BSU nearly blew a 12-point second-half lead. "We let 'em back in it, then we made the right play. It took all we had to beat 'em."

As it did the night before. Jermaine Blackburn tipped in a missed free throw by Karl with 1.1 seconds left as the Broncos beat the Wolf Pack 73-72.

"I guess I made it a little easier on myself this time," said Karl, who joked that he earned an assist for the winning basket on Thursday.

Jason Ellis led the way last night with 25 points and 17 rebounds. He already had a WAC tournament record for one game with 21 boards in BSU's first-round win over Tulsa on Tuesday, and now owns the mark for one tournament with 45.

Blackburn added 22 points and Eric Lane had 14.

Boise State outrebounded Fresno State 45-30.

Ellis was asked if the Broncos (18-17), who have now won three times in four days, can keep it going in tonight's championship game against No. 2-seed Texas-El Paso (26-7).

"We have no choice," Ellis said "If we don't win, we're going home. We don't want to go home."

Tonight's winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

BSU had its biggest lead of 76-64 with 8:09 left, but Fresno State fought back and took the lead, 85-84, when Kevin Bell stripped Karl of the ball near half court and went in for an uncontested layup with 25 seconds left.

After Karl put the Broncos back in front, Fresno's Ja'Vance Coleman missed an open shot and McNeal Thompson cradled the rebound with 1.2 seconds left, and the final horn blared before the Bulldogs could foul him.

Coleman led Fresno State with 26 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 1:29.

"Nobody likes this feeling," he said.

UTEP beat Boise State 78-64 last Saturday in the final regular-season game for both teams.

"They probably handled us as easy as anyone else this year in the first half (last week). But we played a good second half and played pretty good since," Graham said. "They can play you inside or outside. Fili's (Rivera) a very good jockey running the team. But we're not too bad ourselves. We'll go out and hustle."

Notes: Boise State forward Seth Robinson left the game with 13:42 left with a separated shoulder and Graham said he is out tonight. ... BSU has been to the NCAA Tournament four times, without a win. ... The 2001 Hawaii team and 1998 UNLV squad were the worst-seeded teams (No. 5) to win the WAC tournament. No. 6 Hawaii in 1995 advanced to the championship game but lost to Utah.