Boise State Broncos ON SI

Game recap, analysis: Boise State bounces back from San Diego State loss with rout of UNLV

Broncos dismantle Rebels 81-59 in Mountain West Conference play

Bob Lundeberg

Boise State Broncos forward Andrew Meadow.
Boise State Broncos forward Andrew Meadow. / Brian Losness-Imagn Images

The Boise State men’s basketball team shook off a disappointing performance against San Diego State and dismantled visiting UNLV, 81-59, in Tuesday night’s Mountain West Conference game at ExtraMile Arena. 

Senior forward Tyson Degenhart led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Broncos (12-4, 4-1), who dropped a 76-68 decision to the Aztecs last weekend. Alvaro Cardenas added 13 points and nine assists.

In his first game as a Bronco, freshman swingman Pearson Carmichael came off the bench and had eight points, three rebounds and an assist. Carmichael, a two-time Oregon Class 5A player of the year for Bend’s Summit High School, was previously slated to redshirt. 

Boise State entered halftime up 43-24 and led by as many as 29 points in the wire-to-wire win.

Jailen Bedford paced the Rebels (9-6, 3-1) with 11 points. Leading scorer Dedan Thomas Jr. was held to 10 points and four assists.  

Read our game recap, with in-game analysis and big play highlights from start to finish. 

Second half recap

TV timeout: With 3:59 remaining, Boise State is still up big at 70-53. Not a pretty finish for the Broncos, but it didn’t have to be after building a 29-point lead midway through the second half. 

Rebels not going away: A nice drive and finish from Pape N’Diaye cuts the deficit to 67-51 with 5:43 remaining. Broncos are not finishing this one out with the same energy they started with. 

UNLV run: Give credit to the Rebels, they haven’t packed it in. Leon Rice calls a timeout after a quick 8-0 UNLV run. Boise State leads 63-42 with 9:13 to go. 

Broncos rolling: Boise State 63, UNLV 34, 11:18 remaining. This is the best Boise State has looked since its season-opening win over Oakland. 

Carmichael again: The freshman knocks down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put the Broncos up 57-30. Carmichael can really shoot it. 

TV timeout: It’s all Boise State in this one. Broncos lead 52-28 with 15:04 remaining. 

Broncos up big: Tyson Degenhart rattles in a 3-pointer, and Boise State’s lead is up to 48-26. Degenhart is now 6 of 9 from the floor tonight. 

Underway: Boise State, leading 43-24, begins the second half with the ball. 

Halftime recap

Stanley flying around: O’Mar Stanley is playing with tons of energy off the bench. He has six points, two rebounds, one assist and one block. It would be huge for Boise State if Stanley can get going after an up-and-down first half of his senior season. 

Boise State domination: Broncos are 17 of 34 from the field while UNLV is just 8 of 19 with nine turnovers. Boise State is dominating the boards (19-11 advantage) with seven offensive rebounds. 

First half recap

Halftime: Boise State 43, UNLV 24. Alvaro Cardenas hits a buzzer-beater for a 19-point halftime lead. Broncos are in complete control at both ends of the court against a UNLV team that entered with a perfect record in Mountain West play. 

TV timeout: With 3:31 remaining in the half, the Broncos lead 34-22. Boise State is up to six offensive rebounds. 

BSU run: Tyson Degenhart coverts a layup to put the Broncos up 27-16. It’s a 10-0 run for Boise State, which has also forced seven UNLV turnovers. 

Carmichael hits: Carmichael’s first points in a Boise State uniform come on a 3-pointer. Broncos lead 25-16 with 9 minutes to go in the half. 

Broncos rolling on offense: At the second TV timeout, Boise State leads 17-13. Broncos look much better at both ends of the court than they did last Saturday against San Diego State. 

No more redshirt: Pearson Carmichael, a two-time Class 5A state player of the year in Oregon, checks into the game to make his Boise State debut. Carmichael was set to redshirt, but head coach Leon Rice decided that it was time for the talented 6-foot-7 swingman to play. 

Another triple: Alvaro Cardenas knocks down an elbow 3 and the Broncos are 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. That’s a really good sign for Boise State. 14-7 Broncos with 14:15 remaining. 

TV timeout: Boise State leads 8-5 at the first TV timeout. Andrew Meadow and Dylan Anderson both have 3-pointers for the Broncos, who have struggled from long range all season. 

Broncos D up: UNLV is 0 for 1 from the floor with two turnovers so far. 

Underway: UNLV wins the opening tip, and we are off and running at ExtraMile Arena. 

Pregame recap

Injury update: Boise State guard RJ Keene II suffered a nose injury against San Diego State and is out tonight. Freshman Chris Lockett Jr., who scored a career-high 16 points against the Aztecs, will get his first college start against UNLV. 

MORE BOISE STATE NEWS & ANALYSIS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Continue to follow our Boise State coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Published |Modified
Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a reporter for Boise State Broncos On SI. An Oregon State graduate, Bob has lived in Idaho since 2019 and is an avid hiker and golfer.

Home/Basketball