Boise State
Utah State
10-10, 3-4MW
Boise State Grinds Out 16th Win
1/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Chandler Hutchison scored 16 points and the go-ahead layup with 1:21 to play, and Boise State beat Utah State 71-67 on Wednesday night to win its third straight.
The Aggies led 43-40 after 11-0 run capped by Quinn Taylor's layup and pulled ahead by as many as nine points. But, after three lead changes and three ties, Chandler hit his go-ahead layup for a 67-65 lead.
Hutchinson's mid-range jumper with 15 seconds left made it 69-65, but Utah State closed to 69-67 on Koby McEwen's layup. Lexus Williams iced it for the Broncos with two free throws.
Marcus Dickinson tied his career high with 16 points and Williams and Alex Hobbs scored 14 points apiece for the Broncos (16-3, 6-1 Mountain West), who led 37-32 at halftime and scored 13 points off of 14 Aggie turnovers.
Sam Merrill scored 23 points and Dwayne Brown Jr., McEwen and DeAngelo Isby added 11 apiece for Utah State (10-10, 3-4), which has lost three straight.
The win gives Boise State a 16-3 record and 6-1 record in Mountain West play. The 16-3 record matches the best 19-game start to a season in program history, as the 1987-88 and 1988-89 teams also earned the same record. The victory also gives Boise State a perfect 11-0 record at Taco Bell Arena this season.
Broncos committed a season-low eight turnovers, while forcing Utah State into 14. Boise State held a slim 13-11 advantage in points off turnovers. The Blue and Orange received 30 points from its bench.
Boise State will now turn its attention to a massive road game at Nevada (16-3, 5-0) this Saturday, Jan. 20. The game will broadcast on ESPNU and tip at 8 p.m. (MT).
