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No dancing for the Broncos:
At least not in this season
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As it turns out, the third time was not the charm for the Boise
State men’s basketball team. The Broncos season may be over
after losing to UTEP Friday night 85-73, in the semifinals of the
WAC Championships at the Save Mart Center in Fresno.
BSU was the only team to sweep the Miners in the regular season,
but when it really mattered, the Broncos just couldn’t muster
up anything but a loss.
The inside rebounding and low-post scoring of Omar Thomas, who
finished with a game high 21 points, and John Williams, 10
rebounds, was too much for the smaller Broncos. The Miners
out-rebounded the Broncos by nine, and made the most of the
offensive rebounds.
The Miners blocked seven shots down low, and kept the Broncos from
being able to drive inside, something that has been key to their
late season surge. Because of that staunch defense, the Broncos
needed to rely more on their outside shooting, but they were not
falling.
“They’re a good defensive team that gets out and gets
after you,” said head Coach Greg Graham.
The Broncos shot 38.1 percent in the game, and only 10-27 from
behind the three-point line. Near the midpoint of the second half,
the Broncos were shooting a dismal 29 percent from the field.
“We just didn’t hit shots,” Graham said.
Brian Defares led the Broncos (21-9) with 18 points and 8 assists,
but it just wasn’t enough to beat the Miners (24-6).
The teams went into halftime with the Miners up by one, 35-34. But
UTEP went on an early 8-2 run to begin the half, and the Broncos
were never able to regain the lead that they had late in the 1st.
The Broncos did get a glimmer of hope when Franco Harris came off
the bench to nail a three-pointer to bring BSU within five at
46-41. But on the next series for the Miners Thomas completed a
three-point play that stretch the lead to nine.
With four minutes remaining Coby Karl (12 points) drained a pair of
threes to cut the lead to three at 66-63, but Jermaine Blackburn
missed a pair of free throws and Aaron Haynes missed a lay up that
rolled off the rim on the next two possessions.
But that was all that was said for the Broncos as the Miners
finished the game on the line. The Miners only attempted two shots
from the field in the final five minutes of the game.
Freshman Eric Lane came off the bench trying to keep the
Bronco’s hopes alive with his sharp shooting from behind the
arc, he finished with 12 points. Four Broncos finished in double
figures in the loss. Karl finished with 12 before fouling out late,
and senior All-WAC Aaron Haynes, who was playing in front of
friends and family in his hometown of Fresno, finished with 11
points on 4-14 shooting.
The Miners had five players in double figures as the team shot over
53 percent from field. Starters Roy Smallwood had 13, along with
All-WAC first teamer, Filiberto Rivera’s 10 points to go
along with 15 points for Williams and the 21 off the bench for
Thomas.
The Broncos were trying for their first chance at the WAC
championship game, and the program’s first conference title
in ten years. This was the closest the Broncos have come to title
since they lost in the championship game of the Big West tourney
versus New Mexico State in 1999.
The team’s hopes of an NCAA tournament bid are all but out
the window, but the team still put themselves in great position for
the NIT.
The ten road victories this season were a school record for BSU.
The loss Friday night ended a season-high seven game win streak for
the Broncos. The only way for the Broncos to make it to the Big
Dance was a tournament title on Saturday. But the team finished far
beyond what was expected of them before the season started.
Freshman Eric Lane and Coby Karl played a key role this season, and
will be looked at to lead next year’s team with junior
college transfers Franco Harris, and this year’s leading
scorer Blackburn.
Trevor Horn
Sports Reporter
