Boise State Broncos showed their grit on Tuesday, taking down a tough Wyoming team 72-62, moving their Mountain West record to 9-8. This victory marks their second straight win and boosts their recent run to 8-3 over the last 11 games. True to Leon Rice's coaching style, the Broncos dominated with strong defense and rebounding, holding Wyoming to just 0.97 points per possession and finishing +12 on the boards.
Leading the charge were Boise State's offensive stars, Dylan Andrews, Javan Buchanan, and Drew Fielder, who combined for an impressive 55 points on 19-for-29 shooting, a sizzling 66% from the field. Despite struggling from beyond the arc with a 5-for-21 performance, the Broncos found efficiency elsewhere.
While the bench only contributed 7 points, they made their presence felt in other ways. Dominic Parolin, RJ Keene, and AG Neto played crucial roles.
Parolin grabbed 5 rebounds and added two blocks in just 11 minutes. Neto, though not filling the box score, was a defensive force against Wyoming's guards, making key plays that don't always show up in stats.
RJ Keene emerged as the unsung hero, delivering a classic performance with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals, all team highs. Keene's hustle was pivotal, including an assist on Drew Fielder's buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first half, which shifted the game's momentum.
This game marked a shift from Boise State's usual high-scoring, defensively suspect style. Instead, the defense took center stage, holding Wyoming to one of their worst offensive outings of the season. It's a promising sign that Boise State can still secure wins even when their shooting falters, showcasing one of their top defensive efforts of the year.
Looking ahead, the Broncos sit seventh in the Mountain West standings, just a half-game behind UNLV for sixth and a game and a half behind Grand Canyon for fifth. However, due to tiebreakers, they're effectively further back.
The upcoming trio of games is crucial, with a 60% chance of victory against Fresno State and a 44% probability in the season finale against Colorado State. Boise State's chances of winning all three games stand at 13.7%, while the odds of going winless are 10.8%.
The next matchup against Fresno State is pivotal. A win could solidify their spot in the top six, while a loss might push them into a tight race with Colorado State for a lower seed. Catch all the action on BNN's "Manningcast" style broadcast on YouTube.