Shaver Lifts Boise State to Overtime Win in Fresno

Friday, January 28

Fresno, Calif.

9 p.m. MT

Boise State

17-4,8-0Mountain West

Fresno State

14-6,4-3Mountain West

OT 1

Boise St.

Fresno St.

1/29/2022 12:24:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – Marcus Shaver, Jr. hit his third clutch 3-pointer in the last four games, this time a game-tying shot at the end of regulation to force overtime, as Boise State prevailed over Fresno State 68-63 on the road to earn its program-record 14th-straight victory.

Shaver's first attempt to tie the game was just long as it bounced off the rim and called out of bounds going to Fresno State (14-6, 4-3 MW). After a replay review, the ball was given back to Boise State (17-4, 8-0 MW), and Shaver was given another chance with 4.9 seconds on the clock. After getting the ball at the top of the arc on a flair screen, the Bronco guard gave a beautiful pump fake to let the defender by him, then took a dribble before coolly sinking the game-tying shot to send the game to overtime.

After Boise State scored eight-straight points to begin overtime, including four from Shaver, Fresno State responded with an eight-point run of its own to tie the game at 61 apiece with 1:26 remaining. On the other end, Kigab drew a foul and sank two big free throws to take back the lead with just over a minute on the clock. On defense the Broncos earned a stop that led to a dagger-three from Emmanuel Akot on the other end, putting Boise State up 66-61 with 25.3 seconds on the clock. Akot led the Broncos in points (16), rebounds (7) and assists (5) and made five 3-pointers, his third time making at least three triples in the last five games.

Max Rice came alive to score five of his 13 points to spark a 7-2 run in the middle of the second half that gave Boise State a 49-43 lead. The Bulldogs roared back into the game, scoring eight-straight points to take back the lead 51-49 with 2:15 remaining, setting up the dramatic finish.

The Broncos opened the game on a 5-0 run the Bulldogs battled back to take a 12-8 lead. Behind a 17-8 run Boise State jumped back on top and built up its lead to as much as seven before Fresno State closed the gap to four entering the halftime break. Boise State hit seven triples in the first half, including three from Akot and two from Naje Smith.

The game was a battle of two of the nation's top defenses as Boise State entered the game ranked seventh in opponent scoring average (58.1 points per game) while Fresno State ranked fifth (57.7 points per game). The Broncos forced 14 turnovers and held the Bulldogs to under 30 percent shooting from behind the arc.

Shaver finished the game with 14 points to go along with five assists and three steals. Kigab was the fourth Bronco in double figures with his 11 points. Boise State is 12-1 this season when Kigab scores 10 or more points.

The only other overtime affair for Boise State this season came against Saint Louis Nov. 30. The loss to the Billikens was the last defeat for the Broncos before the historic win streak. This was the first overtime win for Boise State since a triple-overtime victory over Pacific in 2019.

The win is the 14th-straight for Boise State, the most consecutive wins in program history and good enough for the second-longest active streak in the nation. Boise State finished the months of December and January with an undefeated record. The win also snaps a nine-game home winning streak for Fresno State, and completes the first regular-season two-game sweep by Boise State since the 2012-13 season.

Up next the Broncos travel to Laramie, Wyo., for a matchup with Wyoming Thursday, Feb. 5. Fans can stream the game on Mountain West Network. Tipoff time is TBA.