No. 1 SDSU vs. Colorado St. No. 8

SDSU beat Colorado State twice during the season, but the Rams are no easy out. Not only do they employ first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection center Jason Smith, but they also are one of the best-scoring teams in the conference. Their problem in the first two games? They are the worst defensive team in the league, allowing nearly 80 points per game in MWC play. If the Aztec offense can keep up with Colorado State’s scoring, then SDSU should be in the semifinals Friday.

No. 4 UNLV vs. New Mexico No. 5

This is the most evenly matched of the games in the first round. The game is even more interesting considering the way the team’s last meeting Wednesday turned out. In UNLV’s loss to New Mexico, Rebel starting guard Jason Petrimoulx broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot and will miss the rest of the season. Without Petrimoulx (who was second in the conference in assists with four per game), UNLV will have a difficult time avoiding another loss to the Lobos.

No. 2 Air Force vs. Wyoming No. 7

Though Air Force is the No. 2 seed in the conference and has a 12-4 record, the Falcons were just 10-9 on the road this season. In addition, Air Force has never won a game in the MWC Tournament. Also, Wyoming’s athleticism – especially with conference Defensive Player of the Year center Justin Williams – poses a huge problem for the Falcons. The Cowboys took the first matchup between the two teams – 55-50 in Laramie, Wyo. – and could make it another short stay in Denver for Air Force.

No. 3 BYU vs. Utah No. 6

The battle of the Beehive State features two of the best big men in the MWC – BYU center Trent Plaisted, the MWC Freshman of the Year and 7-foot Utah center Luke Nevill. The Cougars ended the year as possibly the hottest team in the conference, winning their last six games and, with the emergence of Plaisted, they should be more than capable of countering Neville inside.

– Compiled by Assistant Sports Editor Devin Kunysz