Relying on defense, Boise State men’s basketball pushes win streak to nine games
As a Spokane kid, Tyson Degenhart remembers asking Gonzaga men’s basketball players for autographs after games.
It’s the reason he stops now to honor those requests after Boise State games.
Degenhart led the Broncos with 17 points in a 77-57 win over Oakland, and then posed for pictures and signed autographs for a crowd of children who surrounded him following Sunday’s game at ExtraMile Arena.
“It’s super special,” Degenhart said. “ ... I was in their shoes at one point with Gonzaga players. ... You want to make their day. I know how much it meant to me as a kid, so I want to make sure to pass it forward that way.”
Degenhart, although only a sophomore, is the Broncos’ leader by example. Before tipoff of every game, he even gives opposing players a fist-bump.
“He’s a great teammate. He’s the guy you want to have on your team,” Boise State center Lukas Milner said. “He does all the stuff you don’t see in the light and he just brings a great attitude every day. There’s so many times at practice he’s picked me up, because I get a little emotional when I play, and he’s just a great teammate to have all-around.”
Sunday’s victory was the ninth in a row for the Broncos (10-2), who have now held eight of their 12 opponents to under 60 points. They’re allowing just 57.1 points per game, which ranks ninth nationally and is tops among Mountain West programs.
The Broncos held the Golden Grizzlies (2-10) to 29.4% shooting in the first half and 35.9% for the game, including a clip of 18.5% from 3-point range. Seven Broncos grabbed four or more rebounds as Boise State outrebounded Oakland 45-31. Boise State has outrebounded 11 of its 12 opponents this season.
“We hang our hat and our identity on the way we rebound, the way we defend, how we compete and how we share the ball and play for each other offensively,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “That builds consistency. Those things are our identity and have always been the cornerstone of our program.”
Degenhart was one of four Broncos to reach double figures, going 5-for-9 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line for 17 points. He added four rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Redshirt senior Max Rice recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, junior Chibuzo Agbo totaled 16 points and Lukas Milner came off the bench for 10 points and seven rebounds, highlighted by three dunks.
And for the third time in the past four games, Leon Rice was able to empty his bench, with 11 players seeing time on the court.
“Whether it’s one minute you get or 20 minutes you get, you go in there and help the team,” Leon Rice said. “Those guys have been terrific that way.”
Boise State wraps up nonconference play Thursday on the road at Santa Clara (11-3). Tipoff is 3 p.m. Mountain time at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, California. The game will be streamed on the WCC Network, or listen on the radio on KBOI 670 AM.
Notes: Referee Deron White ran into a Oakland player and took a tumble during Sunday’s game. White fell to the court and performed a perfect somersault, throwing his arms in the air at the end as the crowd cheered him on. ... Redshirt freshman Kobe Young had to be helped off the court after injuring his right leg when he was fouled on a 3-point shot. ... Fifth-year senior Marcus Shaver Jr. sat out for the third time in the last four games with an undisclosed injury.
BOISE ST. 77, OAKLAND 57
Hervey 4-8 1-2 9, Shepherd 0-4 0-0 0, Townsend 11-21 5-5 30, Lampman 1-14 0-0 3, Watts 3-7 0-1 6, Parker 2-5 0-0 4, Price 1-3 0-0 3, Conway 1-2 0-0 2, Deng 0-0 0-0 0, Sherman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-64 6-8 57.
Degenhart 5-9 6-6 17, N.Smith 3-7 3-4 9, Agbo 5-12 3-3 16, M.Rice 5-15 0-0 13, Whiting 1-6 0-0 3, Milner 3-4 4-5 10, Kuzmanovic 1-2 2-2 4, NgaNga 2-3 0-0 5, Sylla 0-0 0-0 0, B.Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Young 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 18-20 77.
Halftime—Boise St. 31-24.3-Point Goals—Oakland 5-27 (Townsend 3-5, Price 1-3, Lampman 1-12, Hervey 0-1, Parker 0-2, Shepherd 0-2, Watts 0-2), Boise St. 9-29 (Agbo 3-8, M.Rice 3-8, NgaNga 1-2, Whiting 1-3, Degenhart 1-4, Kuzmanovic 0-1, Milner 0-1, N.Smith 0-1, Young 0-1).Fouled Out—Conway.Rebounds—Oakland 28 (Townsend 8), Boise St. 44 (M.Rice 10).Assists—Oakland 9 (Lampman, Watts, Price 2), Boise St. 14 (Whiting 4).Total Fouls—Oakland 16, Boise St. 14.A—7,715 (12,480).
This story was originally published December 18, 2022 at 5:22 PM.
