Broncos To Close 2018 With Rematch Against Oregon

Boise State (5-7) vs. Oregon (8-4)
5:30 p.m. MT | Saturday, Dec. 29
Taco Bell Arena | Boise, Idaho

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Game Notes

THE GAME: Boise State (5-7) will face Oregon (8-4) for the second time this season, Saturday, Dec. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at Taco Bell Arena. The same-season rematch will be the fifth meeting in the last four seasons between the two teams.

WATCH: The game will broadcast on CBS Sports Network. John Sadak (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (analyst) will cover the game.

RADIO: Bob Behler will handle play-by-play duties while Abe Jackson will provide analysis. The game will air on 670 AM KBOI or on the TuneIn app.

LAST TIME OUT: Justinian Jessup made four 3-pointers and scored 20 points to lead Boise State to an 83-71 victory over Pacific last Saturday. RJ Williams added 17 points and Zach Haney had 14 for the Broncos, who shot 52 percent (27 of 52) from the field and made 23 of 31 free throws.

The Broncos never trailed, jumping out to a 31-15 lead midway through the first half while building a 39-35 advantage at the break.

The Blue and Orange were rewarded for their aggressive play, recording season highs in points (83), made free throws (23) and free throw attempts (31), shooting 74.2 percent from the charity stripe.

ABOUT OREGON: Statistically the Ducks are still led by Bol Bol in points (21.0 ppg), rebounds (9.6 rpg) and blocks 2.7 bpg), but the freshman phenom hasn't played since Dec. 12. Payton Pritchard continues be the leader for Oregon, as the All-Pac-12 point guard averages 13.1 points per game while playing a team-high 34.2 minutes per game.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST THE DUCKS, CONTEXT: Alex Hobbs tied a career high with 21 points, but Boise State couldn't hold on to the four-point halftime lead (28-24), as Oregon was able to come back and claim the 66-54 win at Matthew Knight Arena two weeks ago (Dec. 15).

UO leads the all-time series 7-2 between the two teams, but Boise State won the last time the two teams faced off in Taco Bell Arena, as the Broncos took the 74-72 victory back in 2015 (Dec. 12).

WE MEET AGAIN: Saturday's game against the Ducks will just the eighth time since the turn of the century that Boise State has played the same nonconference opponent twice in the same season. Idaho (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05), Portland (2003-04), Weber State (2005-06), Fresno State (2011-12) and Arizona (2015-16) are the other five opponents that occupy the previous seven such occasions.

LIKE COMPANY: The two teams are linked together with their success over recent years, as Oregon and Boise State are just two of 21 programs across the country to win 20 games in each of the last six seasons.

FOCUSED OUT OF THE BREAK: Boise State is 7-1 in games coming out of the holiday break under head coach Leon Rice. The Broncos have an average margin of victory of 15.6 points in those seven wins, as the team most recently handled Colorado State, 93-71, last season at Taco Bell Arena (Dec. 27, 2017).

TRYING TO TURN A CORNER: The 83-71 win against Pacific was one of the Broncos' best performances of the season, shooting 51.9 percent from the field (27-of-52) for its fifth game shooting 50 percent or better the season. The key to the win was Boise State's ability to get to the free throw line, as they recorded season highs in made free throws (23) and free throw attempts (31).

Williams continues to buoy the Blue and Orange in both such statistics, as he is second in the conference in field goal percentage (55.7%) and fifth in free throw attempts (62).

JESSUP CONTINUES TO MOVE UP TOP-10 LIST: Jessup knocked down four 3-pointers against Pacific, giving the junior 171 career 3-pointers – putting him in a tie for ninth in Boise State career history, joining Mike Tolman (1992-93 / 95-98).

Jessup has made four or more threes in four games this season – the Broncos are 3-1 in such games.

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Players Mentioned

Zach Haney

Alex Hobbs

Justinian Jessup

RJ Williams