Boise State
Wyoming
Broncos Cruise Past Wyoming 75-63
2/11/2023 10:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State took the first lead of the game and never surrendered it, cruising to a 75-63 victory over Wyoming in Saturday night's Mountain West men's basketball contest at ExtraMile Arena.
The Cowboys (7-17, 2-10 MW) kept the Broncos (19-6, 9-3 MW) close for much of the first half until Boise State took full control with a 20-4 run - including eight-straight points from Tyson Degenhart - that helped build the lead 41-23 at the halfway point.
The Broncos kept the Cowboys at arms distance throughout the second half, leading by 12-or-more points and growing the difference to as large as 24. Max Rice scored eight points in the second half as Boise State was able to win on the glass
Top Broncos
- Naje Smith recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block for his first-career double-double.
- Tyson Degenhart led all scorers with 20 points on 9-11 shooting from the field.
- Marcus Shaver, Jr.dropped 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Quotables
- "A Mountain West victory at any time now is terrific," said head coach Leon Rice. "We have six more games left and that was an important one."
- "We just give it everything we have and lay it out on the floor," said Naje Smith. "After what we accomplished last year we just keep dreaming bigger and bigger, so we really just try to chase those goals together and see what we can accomplish as a team."
Notables
- Boise State scored 41 points in the first half of Saturday's game - the 10th time this season they've scored 40+ in the opening period.
- All five of Boise State's starters scored in double figures for the fourth time this season.
- The Broncos were +15 on the glass (34-19) and had 12 offensive rebounds.
- Naje Smith is the first Mountain West player with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals in a conference game since Feb. 28, 2021 (Justin Bean, Utah State vs. Nevada).
- The Broncos led by double figures for the final 25:21 of the game.
Up Next
The Broncos are back on the road again before returning for two at ExtraMile Arena. Boise State will take on Colorado State, Wednesday (Feb. 15) in Colorado Springs, Colo., with tipoff set for 8 p.m. MT.
