Boise State’s defense, clutch free throws spark third straight Mountain West win

Ron Counts
·2 min read

The Boise State men’s basketball team hit some clutch free throws to withstand a late push by Nevada Friday in the Broncos’ 64-56 victory at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.

It’s Boise State’s second win on the Wolfpack’s court since 2016. It was also the Broncos’ send straight Quad 1 victory of the season, following their upset of No. 17 Colorado State on Tuesday, and their third Quad 1 win of the season.

Boise State (12-4, 3-0 Mountain West) led my as many as 10 points in the second half, but Nevada (15-2, 2-1 MW) battled back and cut the Broncos’ lead to two points with less than 4:00 to play. Max Rice finished at the rim to give the Broncos a late four-point cushion, and they sealed the win at the free throw line.

The Broncos were 9-for-10 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of regulation. St. John’s transfer O’Mar Stanley was 6-for-6. He finished the game with eight points and nine rebounds.

Transfer settles into role as Boise State rolls into daunting Mountain West schedule

Tyson Degenhart led the Broncos with 20 points and added nine rebounds. He scored 13 points in the second half. The two-time All-Mountain West pick has scored at least 20 points three times this season, including a season-high 21 in the Broncos’ conference-opener at San Jose State.

Chibuzo Agabo added 12 points and tied his season-high with nine rebounds. The 6-foot-7 senior also pulled down nine board in the Broncos’ loss to Virginia Tech in November. He has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight games, dating back to the Broncos’ win over St. Mary’s on Dec. 1, 2023.

Point guard Roddie Anderson III finished with 12 points and four assists Friday night, and Rice chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Broncos were dominant on the glass Friday night. Boise State won the rebounding battle 43-24. Nevada was held to just two offensive boards. The Broncos have held opponents to 10 offensive rebounds or less in eight straight games.

Boise State was equally as dominant on defense. The Broncos’ Mountain West win marked the eighth time they have held an opponent to less than 70 points in their last nine games.

Kenan Blackshear led Nevada with 15 points. Jared Lucas added 14 points and four assists.

Boise State will try to extend its current four-game winning streak and its 22-game home winning streak when UNLV comes to town on Tuesday (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network). The Broncos host No. 19 San Diego State on Saturday (11 a.m., CBS).