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Broncos mount ‘huge’ comeback to top Fresno State
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It may have taken nearly 35 minutes to give the home crowd a reason to get on their feet, but the Broncos did-and the crowd responded.
Down eight with just over five minutes to play, Boise State went on an 11-0 run to cap off a double digit comeback win against Fresno State, Saturday afternoon at Taco Bell Arena, beating the Bulldogs 66-63.
“I thought in the last three or four minutes, the crowd made a big difference,” Boise State head coach Greg Graham said. “I thought the crowd was a
big factor.”
Coby Karl led the Broncos with 19 points (17 in the second half) and pulled down 14 rebounds.
“Coby is our leader, our captain. He hit big free throws at the end. He made big plays time and time again. He is definitely our go-to guy and he definitely proved it again (Saturday),” Matt Bauscher said.
Down eleven with just over four minutes into the second half, the Broncos scored 11 points in three and a half minutes (nine from the foul line) to get within five at 46-41.
Fresno State then got a boost from forward Quinton Hosley (game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds) with five points on consecutive possessions to give Fresno State anotherdouble-digit lead.
Down eight with 4:46 left in the game, Karl again made both shots from the line.
“He knows he’s our go-to guy and our clutch guy and we try to get him the ball down the stretch with free throws,” Graham said. Karl was a perfect 9 of 9 from the line Saturday.
Following a missed three-pointer for Fresno State, Karl pulled down the rebound-ran down the court and passed to a wide-open Matt Bauscher who nailed a three-pointer to bring the Broncos within three.
By this point, nearly every one of the 4,002 fans in attendance was on their feet and cheering for the Broncos.
“I loved that crowd (Saturday),” senior Tez Banks said. “Since I’ve been here, the arena hasn’t ever got packed, so that’s as loud as it’s got since I’ve been here. So I really enjoyed it and (the crowd) really had our backs and helped us win that game.”
The Bulldogs missed another shot on the ensuing drive and Tez Banks grabbed a missed Seth Robinson three-point attempt, and put it back in bringing the Broncos within one.
“I thought it was going to hit the rim. I was hoping it was going to hit the rim because I didn’t see him to shoot an air ball. But I was there, at the right spot at the right time, and layed it back in,” Banks said.
On the next possession for Boise State following another miss by Fresno State-Karl leaned in for a floating shot that gave Boise State the lead at 60-59 with 2:05 left.
Banks extended the lead to three with another put back.
Banks finished the game with 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.
“Tez had a big time game,” Bauscher said.
Neither team shot the ball well. Boise State shot just 33 percent (22-66) and Fresno State shot just 36 percent (24-67) from the field.
The Broncos were able to make 17 of 21 shots from the line to just three points off free throws for Fresno State. The Broncos were also able to get Fresno State into foul trouble early in the second half, giving the Broncos more chances at the line, which may have been the key to Boise State’s win.
“It ended up being huge because we ended up getting two every time down the stretch and I think it helps back off their defense a little bit,” Graham said.
The win is the third-straight for the Broncos-the longest of the season and leapfrogs Boise State past Fresno State in the conference standing.
Trevor Horn
Sports Editor
