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Reno • Don't downplay the significance of Tuesday night's Mountain West Conference game between Utah State and Nevada.

While neither the Aggies nor the Wolf Pack look like regular-season title contenders — at least not yet — this game matches teams hopeful of a first-round bye in the league's postseason tournament.

The top six teams in the Mountain West standings automatically qualify for the quarterfinals. The bottom four — not counting ineligible San Jose State — must play first-round games.

Currently, Utah State is 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West. Nevada is 6-10 and 2-2. Both the Aggies and Wolf Pack are positioned to secure one of those first-round byes, though a victory in this head-to-head battle could turn out to be critical.

Utah State comes off one of its most well-rounded wins of the season on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies scored a 71-59 victory over Air Force, which played without injured star Max Yon.

Still, the Aggies shot 54 percent from the field, made 13 of their 23 shots from the three-point line and shut down the Falcons during a late 16-2 run.

It was a big step for a young team with only one senior, back-up forward Sean Harris.

"They should expect themselves to be better the second half of the season," said coach Stew Morrill, "and I think they will be."

Utah State might be catching Nevada at exactly the wrong time, however.

The Wolf Pack haven't played since last Wednesday. But they are surely anxious to make amends for a 98-42 loss at Colorado State.

The Rams opened an 25-3 lead, stretched it to 55-12 at half time and eventually prevailed by 56 points. It was Nevada's worst loss since 1971-72. The Wolf Pack haven't scored fewer points in a game since the 1999-2000 season.

"It was embarrassing," coach David Carter told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Just a week before the Colorado State rout, Nevada capped a four-game winning streak with a 64-62 victory over rival UNLV.

"It's just the mental approach to the game," Carter said. "You have to respect the game. You have to approach the game the same way every time. In the Vegas game, we were very focused and we looked like we could compete.

"[We] have to get back to focusing. We haven't arrived. I knew it'd be an issue after Vegas. We thought we arrived [but] we haven't had enough success to think like that. It wasn't really success. It was one game. I preached that to the guys. … We got a little ahead of ourselves." —

Utah State at Nevada

P At the Lawlor Events Center

Tipoff • 8 p.m. MST

Records • Utah State 10-7, 3-2; Nevada 6-10, 2-2

TV • Mountain West Network

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 102.1 FM

Series • Utah State, 33-15

Last meeting • Utah State, 83-75 (Feb. 5, 2014)

About the Aggies • They are 3-4 on the road. … F Jalen Moore averages 15.7 points. He has reached double figures in 15 straight games. … C/F David Collette has blocked at least one shot in 15 of 17 games. He has nine blocks in the last three games. … In 900 games as a college head coach, Stew Morrill's record is 612-288.

About the Wolf Pack • They are 5-3 at home. … They come off a 98-42 loss at Colorado State - their worst defeat since the 1971-72 season. … Junior forward A.J. West (11.7) and sophomore guard D.J. Fenner (11.3) are their leading scorers. … As a team, they shoot only 25.5 percent from the three-point line.