Boise State’s upset effort against potential NCAA tourney team falls short in OT
For a few fleeting moments, it looked like the Boise State men’s basketball team would have its cathartic moment.
A season full of frustration would be given a touch of brightness if the Broncos could upset Utah State, a team firmly on the NCAA Tournament at-large bubble.
Though it led for less than 2 minutes all Saturday at Taco Bell Arena, Boise State was on top with less than a minute to play. The Broncos and Aggies went to overtime, where Utah State put its foot down en route to a 78-71 win.
It was the Broncos’ seventh loss in eight games this season decided by three points or fewer at the end of regulation.
“It sucks we’re not coming away with these wins. ... We’ve been in a lot of them this season and haven’t been able to take advantage,” Boise State junior guard Justinian Jessup said. “At some point, we’ve got to turn that corner.”
Five years and one day earlier, Boise State (11-16 overall, 6-8 Mountain West) coach Leon Rice famously let out a primal scream when his team won a close game against UNLV. The Broncos had lost five games by four points or fewer before that win.
Such a celebration would have to wait for Rice, who said he hit the point of frustration “about two months ago” with the close defeats. Utah State (22-6, 12-3) came into Saturday’s game ranked No. 36 in the NCAA’s NET rankings.
“That shows up in our guys ... what I think happens is they want it so bad that they start pressing,” Rice said, adding, “they want it so bad, it affects their minds.”
Case in point? The final 32 seconds of Saturday’s game.
Trailing the entire game until a Jessup 3-pointer with 2:02 remaining gave them a 61-59 lead, the Broncos started heading to the free-throw line. Twice in the final 32 seconds, junior guard Alex Hobbs went to the line.
He made 2-of-4 free throws in that span after coming into the game among the best in the nation, making 91.3 percent (42-of-46). Since the calendar flipped to 2019, he had only missed twice.
“You win close games at the line ... but we missed two and gave them an open door,” Rice said.
Utah State’s Sam Merrill, who finished with 32 points, hit a layup and was fouled with 15.2 seconds remaining. He hit his free throw, and Jessup’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed. Boise State had held Utah State without a made field goal for 4:36, turning a nine-point deficit into a two-point lead that grew to as much as five with 48 seconds to go.
In overtime, the Broncos made just one field goal, and sophomore forward Derrick Alston missed both of his free throws as the Aggies pulled away.
Alston, who led Boise State with 22 points, came into the game as an 80 percent free-throw shooter and was 4-for-4 in regulation.
“To see this one slip away again, it’s just kind of disappointing, but we don’t have time to sulk,” Boise State junior guard Malek Harwell said.
Jessup added 21 points, while Hobbs had 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Off the bench, Harwell provided a big spark with a career-high eight points, two assists and a steal, all coming in the last 11:30 of regulation and overtime.
Being close once again, but once again leaving without a win, could wear on a team, but Rice is calmed knowing his team still has fight, which it showed in the final minutes.
“In that aspect, I love this team ... but we want results, the fans want results, the players want results, everybody does — I’ve got to keep them believing in themselves,” Rice said.
ANOTHER TITLE FOR OSTRANDER, DEHAVEN EARNS FIRST
Boise State’s Allie Ostrander added to her impressive resume Saturday as the junior won the women’s 3,000 meters at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
Ostrander set a Mountain West championship record with a time of 9 minutes, 11.61 seconds. It was her second straight Mountain West crown in the event. She also took second in the mile on Saturday, with teammate Alexis Fuller taking third.
On the men’s side, senior Addison DeHaven won the 3,000 meters for his first Mountain West title, winning in 8:12.46. Junior Miler Haller took second in the 5,000 meters in 14:38.59.
Boise State also swept the distance medley relays on Thursday. The men won the event for the first time and the women for the fourth straight time.
The Bronco women finished fifth overall with 62 points, and the men took sixth with 55.
This story was originally published February 23, 2019 at 4:10 PM.
