Fresno State Falls in Third Overtime

Charles Smith had 29 points and scored two baskets in the final minute of the third overtime as New Mexico outlasted Fresno State, 104-99, Friday night in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

New Mexico (26-4) plays No. 10 Utah (25-5) for the tournament championship and automatic NCAA tournament berth tonight. Fresno State (20-10) hopes to receive an at-large NCAA bid.

New Mexico and Fresno State were tied, 74-74, at the end of regulation, 83-83 after the first overtime, and 92-92 after the second.

Dominick Young, who set a tournament record with seven three-point baskets and had 26 points, missed a long range shot with 15 seconds in the third overtime that could have given Fresno State the lead. David Gibson made two free throws with 10.9 seconds for New Mexico’s final points.

Kendric Brooks made one of two free throws with 4.2 seconds, missing the second intentionally but Clayton Shields got the rebound for New Mexico as time ran out.