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Well...that was a whoopin’.
Not much to say other than Boise State needs to put this game in the rearview mirror.
And get Marcus Shaver Jr. back.
Key Teams Stats of the Night
Field Goal Percentage
Boise State - 36.5%
San Diego State - 51.0%
Rebounds
Boise State - 28
San Diego State - 36
Assists
Boise State - 8
San Diego State - 13
Stat Leaders
Points
Max Rice (BSU) - 16 points
Nathan Mensah (SDSU) - 17 points
Rebounds
Naje Smith and Chibuzo Agbo (BSU) - 5 rebounds
Nathan Mensah (SDSU) - 6 rebounds
Assists
Naje Smith, Jace Whiting and Max Rice (BSU) - 2 assists
Darrion Trammell (SDSU) - 7 assists
Story of the Game
Before the opening tip, Boise State suffered their first setback with Marcus Shaver Jr. listed as out. This wasn’t the first time that Shaver has been sidelined with an ankle injury this season. In earlier contests, the Broncos have struggled to create offensive opportunities without their primary ballhandler.
This trend was not bucked in Viejas Arena.
After jumping out to a brief 6-2 lead, San Diego State began to impose its will. Aztec big men Nathan Mensah scored eight points in three minutes to inflate the lead to 11, igniting “The Show” into a frenzy. A pair of Adam Seiko triples put the game on the brink of a blowout with Leon Rice scrambling to search for answers.
Boise State limped into halftime with a 22-point deficit staring them in the face.
The second half was simply a slow death as the Broncos couldn’t mount any type of substantial run.
Chalk this game up as simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
San Diego State is the class of the Mountain West, plain and simple.
FINAL
BOISE STATE BRONCOS (18-6, 8-3) 52
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (19-5, 10-2) 72
BOISE STATE (18-6, 8-3) VS WYOMING (7-16, 2-9)
Location: Boise, Idaho (ExtraMile Arena)
Date/Time: Friday, February 11th at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Traditional Television: CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)
Streaming: CBS Sports app
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Head-to-Head: Boise State is 22-15 all-time against the Cowboys. In their first meeting of the season, the Broncos traveled to Laramie and took care of business, 85-68.
Keys to Watch
1. How will Wyoming’s rotation look after the recent departures of multiple PAC-12 transfers?
- Max Agbonkpolo, Ethan Anderson and Jake Kyman were all big-time transfers this past offseason, but with certain rotation decisions and limited minutes, the three have left Laradise. Considering Graham Ike is still out and others are dealing with injuries, this team is simply needing bodies.
2. Will Marcus Shaver Jr. return to the lineup?
- There was speculation throughout the week that Shaver may suit up, but it has not been officially announced one way or the other. I would elect to sit Shaver considering the home stretch that Boise State will face in the coming weeks, but Leon Rice knows his players better than anyone.
3. Can some of Boise State’s bench pieces find their rhythm?
- With the injuries that Naje Smith and Shaver have endured over the past few weeks, it is imperative for guys like Pavle Kuzmanovic, Kobe Young and Jace Whiting to improve within their respective roles. The Mountain West is a grind, and relying on the health of six or seven players is a big risk.
Stat Leaders (Averages)
Points
Boise State: Forward Tyson Degenhart - 14.2 Pts.
Wyoming: Guard Noah Reynolds - 14.5 Pts.
Rebounds
Boise State: Guard Marcus Shaver Jr. - 6.3 Reb.
Wyoming: Forward Hunter Thompson - 5.3 Reb.
Assists
Boise State: Guard Marcus Shaver Jr. - 4.2 Ast.
Wyoming: Guard Hunter Maldonado - 3.6 Ast.
Odds
Via our friends at DraftKings, Boise State is currently a 13-point favorite and the total is set at 134.5.
Prediction
This should be a get-right game for Boise State. Expect the full roster to contribute and different lineups to be implemented. If this matchup is close in the second half, then something has gone awry. The Broncos win and cover the spread before traveling to Fort Collins on Wednesday.
Final Score
Boise State 76 - Wyoming 60
What are your thoughts on the Broncos’ performance against San Diego State?
Leave your comments down below.
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