Alston Powers Broncos to Decisive Win

Saturday, December 14

Boise, Idaho

4:00 P.M. MT

Boise State

6-4,1-1Mountain West

100

Alabama State

1-9,0-0SWAC

Alabama St.

Boise St.

100

Photo by: Boise State University

12/14/2019 7:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Boise State Postgame Notes Boise State Postgame Quotes

BOISE, Idaho - Derrick Alston Jr. scored 31 points to guide Boise State to a 100-57 victory Saturday, against Alabama State. Alston missed his first shot of the game before making his next 11 to finish 11-for-12 from the field, including 6-of-7 beyond the arc.

"He didn't force it," head coach Leon Rice said of Alston's performance. "The thing that makes him special is his feel for the game. That's what separates him from everybody that's six-foot-nine out there in the college basketball world; his feel is in the 99th percentile."

The beautiful game. Boise State runs the break to perfection and Jessup tees up another triple. Good rebound and push from Alston, great extra pass from Hobbs. pic.twitter.com/dVLwLKFxrU
— Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) December 15, 2019

Alston registered his first 30-point game of the season and third of his career, while finishing two points shy of his career high. He also added four rebounds and four assists on the afternoon.

The Broncos (6-4) broke the game open with a 17-0 run over a five-minute stretch late in the first half. Justinian Jessup drilled a three-pointer just before the first-half horn as Boise State closed the period on a 24-6 spurt and led 51-25 at the break over the Hornets (1-9).

"Our defense really triggered our offense tonight and got us going and I'm just really proud of their approach," said Rice. "We had a great day of practice yesterday and we got after it and these guys had a terrific approach and we look like we took a step and got better in the last couple days"

Jessup scored 14 points in the first half, including four three-pointers. He finished with 19 points, making 5-of-10 triples. Alston and Jessup combined for 50 points Saturday, after being held to 13 in Boise State's loss Wednesday, at Tulsa.

"Tiger Woods birdies 27 percent of the holes after he bogeys one," Rice said. "I think we birdied today… That's what champions do, that's what great players do, that's what great teams do. They respond and they respond with a birdie."

RJ Williams recorded his fourth double-double of the season - and second in as many games - with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. The 16 boards are the most by a Bronco since Chandler Hutchison grabbed 18 against Illinois State, Nov. 17, 2017.

Boise State will break for final exams before taking off to Honolulu ahead of the Diamond Head Classic. The Broncos open the tournament Dec. 22, against Georgia Tech. The game will tip off at Noon HT/3 p.m. MT, airing on ESPN2. Boise State will also play Dec. 23 and Dec. 25, at the tournament. Potential game times can be found at the official tournament bracket.