BYU Challenging Air Force for Mountain West Crown

Air Force started out the 2007 season as the team to beat in the Mountain West Conference, but Dave Rose has BYU motivated more than ever to win a conference championship and ensure the Cougars a spot in the NCAA Tournament brackets when March rolls around next week.

BYU has joined Air Force in the latest Top 25 polls released this week as the Cougars made their first appearance in the national rankings this season at the No. 21 spot in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches' poll.

The Cougars have been very impressive of late, winning eight of their last 10 to sit in first place in the MWC standings.

Air Force, listed among the Top 20 for the seventh consecutive week, had won seven of its last 10 games before losing to UNLV, 60-50, Feb. 20 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Runnin' Rebels currently sit in third place and are enjoying their best start since the 1992-93 squad that finished with a 22-8 record. With victories in eight of their last 10 contests, UNLV has already eclipsed the 20-win mark for the fourth time in eight years.

Since UNLV's Top 25 ranking two weeks ago, it is the first time in the Mountain West's eight-year history that three teams have been ranked at some point during the season.

Despite the loss, Air Force boasts the nation's longest home win streak inside Clune Arena at 30 games (BYU sports the nation's second-longest home win streak at 29 games in the Marriot Center) and was off to its best start in school history at 23-4 midway through the month of February.

It's the second straight season that the Falcons notched the 20-win mark and their third in four years-two statistics that serve as an indication for the program's growth under second-year coach Jeff Bzdelik.

For the seventh time in Mountain West's existence, three teams have topped 20 wins in a season, and all 21 teams in the previous seven years of the league that have had 20 wins or more before Selection Sunday have earned tickets to the postseason.

San Diego State, who has won five of its last six contests, could become the fourth time in the conference to reach 20 wins this season as the Aztecs lurk behind in fourth place.

Last season, Air Force (24-6 in 2006) and San Diego State (24-8) received invitations to the NCAA Tournament, marking the fifth straight year that the Mountain West earned multiple bids to the "Big Dance." BYU (20-8) participated in the 2006 National Invitation Tournament.

Since 2000, the Mountain West has earned 27 postseason bids.

Notes: New Mexico is currently on pace to break the league for 3-point average in conference play, averaging over nine makes per game. The current league record is 8.79 threes per contest, which Air Force set in the 2004-05 season...The Falcons have boasted the best 3-point average in conference play the last three seasons but are currently third (7.77) against MWC opponents...San Diego State guard Brandon Heath became the first 2,000-point scorer in conference history this week. The Los Angeles, Calif. native took over as the league's all-time scoring leader earlier in the season and holds conference career records for made field goals, field goals attempted 3-pointers attempted and steals. Health also marks the first player in league history to top the century mark in both career starts and double-figure scoring...Wyoming junior Brad Jones earned MWC Player of the Week honors Feb. 19 for the second time this season after the 6-foot guard led the Cowboys to a 80-73 conference home win over San Diego State on Feb. 17. The Marked Tree, Ark. native recorded a game-high 32 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor and 17-for-18 from the free throw line. The 17 makes from the charity stripe ties Heath and former Utah center Andrew Bogut for the second-most free throws made in a conference game all-time. Jones also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out a game-best five assists the Aztecs to help Wyoming snap a four-game losing streak. His second 30-point effort of the season came close to his 32 that he scored earlier in the year, which marks his career-best so far in conference play.