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With Utah State moving to the the Mountain West Conference next season, Thursday night's game against Texas-Arlington marks the beginning of the Aggies' final run in the WAC tournament. While moving to the Mountain West is without a doubt a step up, the WAC tournament has provided Aggie fans with some amazing moments over the past seven years; here are a few of my favorites:
Big Blue vs. Pistol Pete
Let's start with a non-basketball moment; 2009 conference semifinals, on a 100 dollar bet, Utah State mascot Big Blue stole New Mexico State Mascot, Pistol Pete's mustache. The Pistol didn't find the humor in the situation like I did.
Nate Harris with the Hail Mary
2006 Conference Semi-finals against Louisiana Tech, Utah State's Nate Harris beats the halftime buzzer with 70-foot bank shot. The aggies went on to beat the Paul Millsap led Bulldogs 68-64.
Stew and the at-large bid
2006 was Utah State's first year in the WAC tournament, they moved to the league based on the idea that it was a two bid league for the NCAA tournament, and coach Stew Morrill wasn't afraid to share his opinion to anyone who thought the conference shouldn't have two teams. "If we don't get a bid tomorrow then we should pull out of the WAC and go back to the Big West. I'm dead serious."
Well said Stew, well said.
Spicer the "Icer"
In 2007, the Aggies faced the 10th ranked Nevada Wolfpack in the semifinals. Utah State trailed by as many as seven midway through the 2nd half, but led by Jaycee Carroll's 24 points, they rallied back. Durrall Peterson's back to back three's with just over two minutes left, gave Utah State a six point lead. Nevada rallied. Marcellus Kemp's three cut the lead to two with 28 seconds left and then on the ensuing in bounds, Kemp stole the ball and tied the game with a ridiculous circus shot with 12 seconds to go.
Utah State's turn.
Chaz Spicer was fouled on his way to the hoop, he calmly made to free throws to give the Aggies the lead with two seconds left, Nevada's last second shot missed the mark, and the Aggies pulled off the upset 79-77 over the 10th ranked Wolfpack.
Newbold's clutch shot leads to first WAC tourney title
For perhaps my favorite moment, we go back to 2009 and the semifinal game against New Mexico State. Tyler Newbold's jumper with three seconds left capped off an 11-2 run in the final five minutes of the game. The Aggies advanced to the championship game where they held Nevada scoreless for the first six and a half minutes. The Aggies win their first WAC Tournament Championship and Gary Wilkinson is named tournament MVP.
