Boise State and Air Force close out the regular season today

WHAT: Boise State Broncos (19-11, 9-8 MW) vs. Air Force Falcons (11-17, 5-12 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 12:00 PM MT

WHERE: Clune Arena, Colorado Springs, Colorado

TV: ROOT

RADIO: KBOI (670 AM) and KKGL (96.9 FM) in the Boise area; AM 740 KVOR in the Colorado Springs area

The Boise State men’s basketball team will tip off against the Air Force Falcons in Clune Arena today as both teams close out their regular season. The Broncos are coming into the game after dropping a close contest at home to UNLV in double overtime Wednesday while the Falcons are at home following a drubbing at New Mexico.

Boise State has a lot to play for: a win over Air Force gets them a bye in next week’s Mountain West Tournament. Their loss Wednesday cost them the No. 3 seed in next week’s Mountain West Tournament, but a win today puts them in as the No. 4 and an all-important bye through Wednesday’s first round. That would allow them to open tournament play in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

But Air Force also has a lot to play for: honor and respect and both are important qualities to the cadets. They have only won two of their last 12 games. The only other team in the league with a worse conference record is San Jose State (7-22, 1-16 MW). The last time the Broncos and Falcons met was in Taco Bell Arena and Boise State won the contest , 69-58. But if the past is any record of expectations, Air Force could give Boise State a real battle. The Broncos have not fared well in Clune Arena, and the last time they played there was in January 2013. Air Force won that game, 91-80.

Vegas has Boise State an 8-point favorite over Air Force in today’s matchup.