Season Comes to a Close in NCAA Tournament

Thursday, March 16

Sacramento, Calif. (Golden One Center)

5:35 p.m. MT

Boise State

(7) Northwestern

The Boise State men's basketball team huddles during a media timeout in the NCAA Tournament game to Northwestern.

Photo by: Tyler McFarland

3/16/2023 9:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Northwestern shoots 49% from the field as Broncos lose by single digits

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Boise State men's basketball had four members of its starting lineup score in double figures, but couldn't make enough plays down the stretch in a loss to seventh-seeded Northwestern, 75-67, Thursday in the NCAA Tournament First Round at the Golden 1 Center.

Northwestern jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first eight minutes before the Broncos clawed back into the game. Boise State cut the deficit to three and ultimately went into the halftime break trailing by six, 38-32.

Boise State stayed hot to start the second half, with Max Rice providing the spark. Rice scored or assisted on the Broncos' first 14 points of the period, including a fastbreak 3-pointer that tied the game at 40.

The Wildcats answered back with a 3-pointer of their own - a sign of things to come. Boise State made it a one-possession game on three more occasions, but Northwestern leaned on timely 3-point shooting throughout the second half and made 7-of-9 free throws in the final two minutes to keep the Broncos at bay.

Rice finished with a team-best 17 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists.

Naje Smith tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds to record the first double-double in an NCAA Tournament game in program history.

The loss ends Boise State's season at 24-10. The Broncos have won 51 games across the last two seasons, the program's most victories in a two-year stretch, culminating with back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.

TOP BRONCOS

Naje Smith recorded the first double-double (14 points-11 rebounds) by a Bronco in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite going down in the first half with an injury, Marcus Shaver returned to the game to finish with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Max Rice led Boise State in scoring with 17 points. He added four assists.
Chibuzo Agbo had 12 points to go along with nine rebounds.

QUOTEABLE

I couldn't be more proud of our effort," said head coach Leon Rice. "To get 20 offensive rebounds against that team, that just shows you we're trying to find a way. Our guys never - just like they always do - never gave up, kept battling till the bitter end."
"(It's) just a credit to those dudes. They've been doing it all year," said Max Rice. "We tried everything we could to stop 'em. Though just kept scoring tough buckets when they needed them. Just a credit to those dudes. They're really good players and they've had a great season."
"It's meant so much to me. Given me that home I was looking for coming out of junior college," said Naje Smith. "I feel like a lot of times I bounce around a lot, team to team. It's nice to have a home and know they have my back. So I tried to give them mine and play as hard as I could."

NOTABLES

…Max Rice became the first Boise State student-athlete from the State of Idaho (hometown or high school) to appear in multiple NCAA Tournament games.

…Tyson Degenhart became the first Bronco to play in and the first to start an NCAA Tournament game as both a freshman and a sophomore.

…Chibuzo Agbo NCAA Tournament career (14 total points; 4-6 on 3FG in two games at TT)

…Max Rice career steals in NCAA Tournament games (entered with three, school record is four).

…Tyson Degenhart and Marcus Shaver, Jr. became the fourth and fifth Broncos in program history to start multiple NCAA Tournament games (Derrick Marks; Igor Hadziomerovic; Eric Bellamy)

…Max Rice has scored 21 total points in two NCAA Tournament games, the fifth most in Boise State history.

…Naje Smith finished with 14 points and 1 rebounds…it is the first double-double in an NCAA Tournament game in Boise State history.

… Marcus Shaver Jr. concludes his career 19th in school history in scoring with 1,106 He passed Reggie Larry (1,098) on the all-time scoring list. For his total career he scored 1,974 points.

… This is the first time Boise State has had four players score in double figures in a NCAA Tournament game.

… Boise State is now 0-11 against current Big Ten membership.

… Five of Boise State's nine losses in the NCAA Tournament have come by single digits.

… The Broncos had 20 offensive rebounds for the first time since Feb. 23, 2016 (UNLV) and only the third time in the Leon Rice era. It's the most offensive rebounds Boise State has had in an NCAA Tournament game (previous high was 18 against Vanderbilt in 1993).

… The 41 total rebounds eclipses the previous program record for an NCAA Tournament game of 36 (Vanderbilt, 1993).

… Boise State's 15 assists are tied for third-most in an NCAA Tournament game.

… The 67 points are the third-most Boise State has had in an NCAA Tournament game.

… Boise State's 24 wins are tied for fourth-most in a single season.