Boise State Eyes Momentum as Air Force Comes to Town
Boise State men’s basketball is beginning to find its rhythm, and this weekend presents a prime opportunity to keep that momentum rolling. After back-to-back wins, the Broncos (11-8, 3-5 Mountain West) return to ExtraMile Arena on Saturday afternoon to host an Air Force team still searching for its first conference win.
On paper, this matchup tilts heavily in Boise State’s favor. The Falcons (3-16, 0-8) are riding a 12-game losing streak and haven’t tasted victory since before Thanksgiving. But don’t expect the Broncos to take anything for granted.
“They’re a Division I team, and their record-especially in this conference-doesn’t mean anything,” senior forward Javan Buchanan said Friday. “Nobody in that locker room is complacent. We want to come out and play our best basketball yet.”
That mindset is exactly what head coach Leon Rice wants to hear. While Air Force’s struggles are well-documented, Rice knows that looking past any opponent in the Mountain West is a recipe for trouble.
And the numbers? They’re rough.
Ten of the Falcons’ 12 consecutive losses have come by double digits, and five of those were blowouts by 23 points or more. Their last win came on Nov. 23 against IU Indy, a Horizon League team that’s also having a tough season.
The only other wins on Air Force’s résumé came against Alabama State and SIU Edwardsville. Since then, it’s been a string of losses, including to teams like Long Island University, Northern Colorado, and Pacific.
Statistically, Air Force is struggling on both ends. They rank dead last in the Mountain West in scoring at just 61.7 points per game and sit 10th out of 12 in points allowed at 76.2. Nationally, they’re sitting at No. 336 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and No. 310 in KenPom-numbers that reflect a team still searching for answers.
To make matters more complicated, the Falcons are now navigating a coaching shake-up. Head coach Joe Scott was suspended last week pending an investigation into his treatment of players. Assistant coach Jon Jordan has stepped in as interim head coach and oversaw an 81-52 loss at Colorado State in his debut.
Still, Rice isn’t letting his team ease up.
“What I’ve seen in the last couple games is that they’ve got bounce in their step,” Rice said. “The new guys can create a restart.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Air Force has long been known for its deliberate, methodical offense that drains the shot clock and forces teams to stay disciplined.
But this year, they’ve tried to play with more tempo. That shift can catch teams off guard if they’re not locked in.
“If you’re not disciplined, they can really hurt you,” Buchanan said. “And if you’re not locked into what you need to do to win, they’re a Division I team, and they can do some damage.”
For Boise State, Saturday’s game is about more than just not slipping up-it’s about continuing to dig out of the early hole they found themselves in. The Broncos started conference play 1-5, with those losses coming against the current top five teams in the league.
Now, they’re entering a stretch of games against opponents in the bottom half of the standings. After Air Force, they’ll head to San Jose State (6-13, 1-7) next week.
But Rice is making it clear: no one’s looking ahead.
“I’m gonna look at Air Force and what we can do today to be the best team we can be, because that’s our secret sauce,” Rice said. “We have an urgency to get better today.
We have an urgency because it’s never really about who we play next. When it becomes too much about who you play next, your team suffers.”
Saturday’s matchup isn’t just about the standings-it’s about identity. Boise State is trying to reassert itself in the Mountain West race, and that starts with taking care of business at home.