Boise State extends winning streak to eight with first win at Nevada in nearly 6 years
Emmanuel Akot drove to his right, then switched to his left with a behind-the-back crossover and slashed through the key, rising above Nevada 7-footer Will Baker for a powerful, right-handed dunk.
It was just one dominant play in a dominant evening for Boise State.
The Broncos led from start to finish in an 85-70 victory over Nevada in a Mountain West contest Wednesday night at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada. It was the Broncos’ first win in Reno in nearly six years and extended their current winning streak to eight games.
And it came after a 14-day layoff due to COVID-19 issues within the Broncos’ program that forced the postponement of three games.
“Credit to our staff. These guys, we’ve coached for a long time, and guess what? We’ve never done a game plan with Zoom,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “We’ve never had to show guys how we’re gonna guard another team and they’re not even at practice.”
Boise State (11-4, 2-0 MW) did not seem bothered by the break, as Akot nailed a 3-pointer on the team’s opening possession and assisted on the Broncos’ next three baskets. After he posterized Baker, Akot made another triple for a 29-17 lead with 4:47 left in the first half, with Akot scoring or assisting on 21 of those 29 points.
“That play was amazing — the athleticism and the toughness,” Rice said of Akot’s dunk. “And that’s where E-man’s growing as a player. Every day out, he’s getting a little bit better.”
The Broncos led 41-27 at halftime after holding the Wolf Pack (7-6, 1-1) to just 29.6% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
“It was a great team win,” said Akot, who finished with 23 points, one short of his career high. “My teammates gave me great energy after that (dunk). It felt really good to see everyone jumping around and celebrating me. So that’s what I love about this team. We’re a really together team and we love each other, so it was a great experience and a fun game.”
When Akot wasn’t going off, fellow redshirt senior Marcus Shaver Jr. took over. Shaver connected on 10-of-14 from the field, including a 4-for-8 performance from 3-point range, for a game-leading 28 points, which are his most in a Boise State uniform.
Shaver scored 16 of his 28 points in the second half, playing the role of closer for the Broncos by scoring their final seven points of the game.
After losing all three games against Nevada last season — the last of which knocked them out of the Mountain West Tournament — the Broncos did not take their foot off the gas Wednesday night. Their largest lead of the game, 70-49, came with 7:42 left in the second half as the Broncos shot 50% for the game and outrebounded the Wolf Pack 38-29.
“Defense is all effort and when all five guys who are on the floor are showing intense effort, I think that shows character and selflessness,” Akot said. “We have guys that really embody that.”
Naje Smith was the third Bronco to score in double figures against Nevada, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench, including two steals he turned in to dunks. Mladen Armus added seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Abu Kigab had nine points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
The Broncos’ game at Nevada on Wednesday was their first of five games in five different states over the next 11 days.
Boise State was originally scheduled to have a bye this weekend, but the Broncos will now travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to face the Lobos. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Mountain time Saturday at The Pit, and the game will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
The Broncos then return home to host Air Force at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18 (CBS Sports Network). It will be BSU’s first home game since Dec. 28. After that, the Broncos take off for Utah State (Jan. 20) followed by San Diego State (Jan. 22).
BOISE ST. 85, NEVADA 70
BOISE ST. (11-4): Armus 3-7 1-5 7, Degenhart 3-7 0-0 6, Kigab 2-9 4-4 9, Akot 7-14 5-8 23, Shaver 10-14 4-4 28, Rice 0-1 1-2 1, N.Smith 5-7 1-2 11, Milner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-60 16-25 85.
NEVADA (7-6): Washington 3-6 5-6 11, Baker 3-6 0-0 7, Blackshear 3-7 0-1 7, Cambridge 5-10 1-1 14, Sherfield 7-17 11-12 26, Coleman 1-6 1-2 3, Foster 0-1 1-2 1, Huseinovic 0-1 1-2 1, Hymes 0-0 0-0 0, Henry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-54 20-26 70.
Halftime—Boise St. 41-27. 3-Point Goals—Boise St. 9-26 (Akot 4-8, Shaver 4-8, Kigab 1-4, Rice 0-1, N.Smith 0-2, Degenhart 0-3), Nevada 6-18 (Cambridge 3-5, Blackshear 1-2, Baker 1-3, Sherfield 1-3, Huseinovic 0-1, Coleman 0-4). Fouled Out—Kigab. Rebounds—Boise St. 36 (Armus 12), Nevada 27 (Cambridge 7). Assists—Boise St. 11 (Akot 5), Nevada 13 (Sherfield 7). Total Fouls—Boise St. 24, Nevada 21. A—6,386 (11,536).
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 11:14 PM.
