Boise State ramps up offense, escapes Loyola Marymount 80-79

After Boise State’s comeback bid fell short against Evansville in the MWC/MVC Challenge Saturday, the Broncos played role reversal Monday night in Los Angeles.

Chandler Hutchison finished with a game-high 17 points, Justinian Jessup added 10 and James Reid scored 10 off the bench as Boise State (5-4) held off a furious Loyola Marymount (2-3) comeback at Gersten Pavilion. Despite 19 turnovers, the Broncos combatted its costly possessions by converting 58% of its field goal attempts, including 9-21 from deep.

Boise State caught fire in the first half, leading LMU 49-42 at the break. The Broncos extended its lead to 12 on a Justinian Jessup layup with 3:11 remaining, but the Lions managed a 13-2 spurt and had a chance to win the game on the final possession. With 1.6 seconds on the clock, Steven Haney attempted an off-balance fading attempt off an in-bounds pass that would have handed LMU the victory, but the ball ricocheted off the backboard.

Boise State completed its daunting four game stretch with a 2-2 record, the other win at home against SMU, a 71-62 victory. The Broncos will finish the remainder of the non-conference schedule at home where it hosts Portland, Idaho State and Cal St. Northridge over the next two weeks. BSU then heads to Logan, Utah to face the Utah State Aggies on December 28 in the first league game of the season.