Weber State basketball: Wildcats ride senior leadership in CIT

Ogden • Scott Bamforth and Frank Otis have never brought less than 100 percent effort to practices or games this season, says Weber State coach Randy Rahe.

"That's senior leadership," said Rahe following WSU's crushing victory Wednesday against Cal Poly in the CollegeInsider.com tournament.

Rahe will continue to lean on his two seniors Saturday when Air Force enters the Dee Events Center for a 7 p.m. second-round CIT matchup. The Falcons (18-13), who finished sixth in the Mountain West Conference, are coming off a 69-65 victory at Hawaii. Mike Fitzgerald's 25 points and nine rebounds keyed the win.

Weber State (27-6) tied the school and Big Sky Conference record for wins with its 42-point pounding of Cal Poly.

"Life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent of how you respond to it," Rahe said. "Tonight's not about our guys. It's about our seniors and honoring our seniors again. Our team owes it to them to give it their best. To see Scott and Mook [Otis] play so well … if it is our last home game, they'll take great memories from this game."

Bamforth scored 23 points, including a career-tying seven 3-pointers, on 8-of-10 shooting. He also added four assists and five rebounds.

Otis scored just six points, but grabbed seven rebounds from his power forward position to go with two assists.

Bamforth expects more of the same effort against Air Force.

"I got great teammates, they're like my brothers," Bamforth said. "We don't want the season to end." —

Air Force at Weber State

O At Dee Events Center, Ogden.

Tipoff • Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV • None

Radio • 1280 AM

Records • AF 18-13; WSU 27-6

Series history • Tied, 1-1

Last meeting • WSU, 82-67 (Feb. 16, 1976)

About the Falcons • AF has victories against New Mexico, UNLV and San Diego State. .

About the Wildcats • WSU is in its fifth consecutive postseason tournament.