Las Vegas • The work is done for Utah State.

A dominant regular season in the Western Athletic Conference is behind the Aggies. And with the NCAA's Selection Sunday looming, the pressure was on USU to win the conference tournament as well, lest the Aggies wanted to be stuck with a so-so seed heading into the Big Dance.

It wasn't easy. San Jose State provided a stiff challenge in Friday night's semifinal at the Orleans Arena. But after Saturday night's 77-69 win against Boise State, USU can wait and hope for a single-digit seed for the first time in the Stew Morrill era.

"It's really hard to win the regular season and win the tournament, too," said Morrill, the Aggies' coach. "We've had a lot of pressure and expectation on us. The best thing about the win is that we're in. Nobody can keep us out of the tournament."

A 12-0 run to start the second half proved to be the key five-minute juncture of the game for the Aggies. It turned a 35-33 lead into a 47-33 advantage that proved to be insurmountable. Junior point guard Brockeith Pane scored 18 points and was named the WAC tournament MVP, while Tai Wesley scored 19 points and gathered nine rebounds in 34 minutes.

Together, those two proved to be the best players on the floor. Whenever USU needed to make a play off the dribble, Pane was there, getting to the rim and finishing. If the lane was shut off, he made 15- to 18-footers with ease.

And despite being doubled all night, Wesley scored in the paint, he grabbed rebounds and he was able to impose his will. Wesley's three-pointer from the top of the key supplied USU with that 14-point lead. The Broncos made multiple runs, but Utah State was always there with the answer.

"They've done that for us all year," Morrill said. "They're all-league players and they've played like it. They showed why. You have to have your all-league guys step up, and they did. That was super."

Defensively, the Aggies slowed the Broncos some, but La'Shard Anderson was big for Boise State, scoring 18 points and battling Pane basket for basket for a long stretch.

A big difference proved to be Nate Bendall, who proved to be a huge factor. Playing perhaps his best game of the season, the senior from Skyline High scored 16 points, a season-high, and grabbed six rebounds in 29 minutes.

When Wesley was surrounded inside, Bendall made face-up jumpers. He scored in the paint, and he provided a complement to Wesley when he couldn't get a shot off in the paint.

"They made big plays," Boise State coach Leon Rice said. "A few of our balls just rolled out and they made a nice run. We answered runs and we gave ourselves a chance to win."

Brian Green came off the bench to score 12 points, and Utah State outrebounded the Broncos 36-26.

"We wanted to come out and put this away when we had the chance," Wesley said. "We have a bunch of unselfish guys, and we really have guys that don't worry about scoring. This is a good group." —

Highlights

R Brockeith Pane wins tournament MVP.

• Utah State goes on a 12-0 run to open the second half.

• The Aggies win the Western Athletic Conference tournament.