Bulldogs Slip By Broncos in Fresno

Wednesday, February 13

Fresno, Calif.

8:30 PM MT

Boise State

11-14, 6-6MW

Fresno State

18-6, 9-3MW

Boise State

Fresno State

2/14/2019 12:39:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Postgame Notes

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Braxton Huggins put Fresno State in front with a 3-point play in the final half-minute and Noah Blackwell extended the lead as Fresno State held off Boise State 65-63 on Wednesday night.

The game swung back-and-forth throughout the night and in the closing minutes Alex Hobbs hit a jumper to put the Broncos up 61-59 with 48 seconds left to play. But Huggins scored at the basket and drew a foul from Hobbs to put Fresno State in front. Hobbs drew a foul with eight seconds left and sank both free throws to make it a one-point game, but Nate Grimes drew a foul with six seconds left and hit the first of two free throws to set the final margin.

In a game that featured 16 lead changes with neither team leading by more than six points the whole way, the Blue and Orange once again came out on the wrong end of another close one. The one-possession loss is the sixth of the season for Boise State, who is now 1-6 in games decided by three points or less this season. The only other season in program history where the team suffered six losses by three points or less was the 1983-84 season.

Hobbs led the way with 18 points to go with four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 33 minutes of play. No other Bronco reached double-digit points, but five others were able to score seven or more: Pat Dembley (9), David Wacker (8), Justinian Jessup (8), RJ Williams (7) and Marcus Dickinson (7).

Boise State was relatively limited offensively, shooting just 36.7 percent from the field (22-of-60) and connecting on only three 3-pointers (3-of-17) – the team's fewest threes this season. The team was accurate from the free throw line, however, making 16-of-17 for its second-highest free throw percentage of the season (94.1%).

The Broncos are now 3-3 in Mountain West road games, with its only other road losses coming at Air Force and Nevada.

The Blue and Orange will stay the week in California in preparation for their next game, at San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. PT. The game will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.