Boise State basketball adds historic showdown with an SEC team to its 2020-21 schedule
The Boise State men’s basketball team will face Texas A&M on Dec. 18 as part of The Battleground 2k20 showcase at the Toyota Center — home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
It will mark the first time the Broncos and Aggies have met on the court, and Boise State’s eighth all-time meeting against a current member of the SEC. The event features a doubleheader, with the Broncos’ game tipping off ahead of a contest between Texas and Louisiana Tech.
“We are really excited to add another high-profile game to our schedule against a quality opponent,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said Wednesday in a press release. “I have a ton of respect for (Texas A&M coach) Buzz Williams and what he has done throughout his career. It will be a great challenge and a great opportunity for us.”
After leaving Virginia Tech following the 2018-19 season, Williams led the Aggies to a 16-14 record in his first year in College Station, Texas. Boise State went 20-12 overall and 11-7 in the Mountain West last season. It was the Broncos’ eighth 20-win season in the 10 years since Rice took over.
Tip-off times, television and ticket information for The Battleground 2k20 will be released at a later date.
This season, the Broncos have to replace leading rebounder RJ Williams and top three-point shooter Justinian Jessup. They may also have to replace leading scorer Derrick Alston Jr., who declared for the NBA Draft in March and has not yet withdrawn his name.
Boise State’s roster should be bolstered this year by the addition of several transfers, though.
Former Oregon forward Abu Kigab made his debut in the second half of the 2019-20 season, while Emmanuel Akot (Arizona), Devonaire Doutrive (Arizona), Marcus Shaver Jr. (Portland) and Mladen Armus (ETSU) all sat out the year due to NCAA transfer rules.
In April, the Broncos also signed junior college transfers Lukas Milner and Naje Smith. Both are immediately eligible.
Boise State has also announced nonconference games against BYU, Rhode Island, Cal State-Northridge, Tulsa and Northern Colorado. The Broncos are also scheduled to be part of a talented field in the Orlando Invitational Nov. 26-29 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. They’ll be joined by Gonzaga, Michigan State, Auburn, Xavier, Saint Louis, Belmont and Siena.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Boise State basketball adds historic showdown with an SEC team to its 2020-21 schedule."
