Broncos Drop Heartbreaker to Aggies

Saturday, January 11

Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)

7 PM

Boise State

12-5,4-2Mountain West

Utah State

16-1,6-0Mountain West

Boise St.

Utah St.

1/11/2025 10:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

LOGAN, Utah — Despite making a season-high 14 three-pointers, Boise State dropped a heartbreaker to the Aggies on Saturday and fell, 81-79, inside Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Broncos (12-5, 4-2 MW), who were previously on a two-game road winning streak, are now 2-2 on the road this season. Utah State (16-1, 6-0 MW) extended its winning streak to six games.

Four Broncos scored in double figures led by Tyson Degenhart, who totaled a game-high 22 points. It marked his seventh 20-point effort of the season and 24th of his career.

Alvaro Cardenas recorded 15 points, eight assists and two steals, while Javan Buchanan had 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.

Andrew Meadow pitched in 12 points and five boards in 30 minutes of game action.

The Aggies were paced by Ian Martinez, who registered 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Four other players scored in double figures for Utah State.

After surrendering the first four points of the game, the Broncos responded with back-to-back buckets by Meadow and Degenhart. Making four three-pointers at the outset, the duo combined to score Boise State's first 14 points.

Upon reaching the first media timeout at the 13:33 mark, the Broncos made five of their first seven shots from the floor and were perfect from distance (4-4 3FGs). Conversely, the Aggies shot 78 percent (7-9 FGs) from the field in the first six minutes and led, 16-14.

Boise State, who began the game scorching hot offensively, grabbed its first lead of the night with 11:57 remaining in the opening half. Off the bench, Julian Bowie knocked down the team's fifth long of the period, putting the Broncos ahead, 19-16.

In a tightly contested first half, the largest lead for either team was six. The period was nip-and-tuck and featured four ties and five lead changes.

Pouring in his fourth three in the opening 20 minutes, Degenhart capped Boise State's first-half scoring and gave the team a 38-32 advantage—its largest of the half—with 65 ticks left. In total, the Broncos made 14 field goals, shot 54 percent as a team and led, 38-34, at the intermission.

To open the second half, Cardenas hit Boise State's 10th three, giving the Broncos a seven-point lead. The team scored the first nine points of the period and forged ahead, 47-34.

Utah State, however, built momentum and responded in kind. The Aggies went on an extended 25-15 run across the next eight minutes to make it a one-point game.

With 6:44 left to play in the contest, Utah grabbed its first lead since the score read 16-14. Karson Templin gave the Aggies a 65-64 advantage on a contested layup.

Trailing by two with 4:15 to play, the Broncos scored six quick points and put themselves back in front, 76-72. Down the stretch, both teams traded buckets as the game seesawed back-and-forth.

Cardenas, who tied his season high with three three-pointers, buried a long ball and gave Boise State a two-point edge with 15 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Martinez put the Aggies back on top, but this time for good.

Martinez connected on his fifth three of the game and was awarded a free throw for a four-point play. The Broncos, who had seven seconds following the make at the charity stripe, were unable to connect on the game's final shot.

In the second half, Utah State shot a blistering 80 percent (16-20 FGs) from the field and scored 47 points. The final shot by Martinez proved to be the biggest of the contest, resulting in a two-point Boise State defeat.

The Broncos, who have a quick turnaround, will return home on Tuesday to take on Wyoming. Tip off at ExtraMile Arena is set for 7 p.m. MT.

NOTABLE:

The Broncos are now 21-39 in 60 all-time, head-to-head meetings against Utah State.

Boise State is 4-23 on the road against the Aggies and 1-5 overall in the last six contests.

As a team, the Broncos connected on 14 three-pointers, the most in a single game since burying 15 against Air Force on Feb. 3, 2024.

Previously 5-0 when shooting 50 percent or higher in a single game, Boise State shot 52.9 percent (27-51 FGs).

For the second-consecutive game (seventh this season), Tyson Degenhart scored 20 points and posted a game-high 22 on 7-of-12 shooting.

Degenhart made a career-high five three-pointers, becoming the first Bronco to make five or more threes in a single contest since Max Rice knocked down seven at New Mexico on Jan. 31, 2024.

With 1,666 career points, Degenhart surpassed Abe Jackson (1,660) for sixth most on the all-time scoring list.

Alvaro Cardenas garnered eight assists, marking the sixth time he's produced at least eight dimes in a game this year.