Broncos let win slip in Fresno, ready for Idaho

Unable to hold on to a 10-point second half lead, the Boise State men’s basketball team fell short of a road win Monday night in Fresno, losing to the Bulldogs 81-79.

Up 70-60 with 11 minutes, 27 seconds to play, the Broncos allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead with 1:46 to play on a free throw by Quinton Hosely. Scoring at will the first 29 minutes of the game, the Broncos scored just nine points the final 10:33, including a three-pointer by Seth Robinson with 31.4 seconds left to tie the game up at 79.

Fresno State came back and re-took the lead with 9.5 seconds left on a jumper by Ja’Vance Coleman.

Both teams took three straight timeouts before the Broncos were finally able to run a play from the opposite baseline. Coby Karl took the ball and attempted a three-pointer that fell short. Matt Bauscher grabbed the rebound but was blocked by Hosely as time expired.

Eric Lane started for the first time in three games for Boise State and finished with a team high 18 points on 7-11 shooting. Karl finished with just 9 points, his first non-double digit scoring game since Dec. 11, his only one of the season. Tez Banks also scored a career-high 17 points Monday.

Fresno State was led by Coleman (25 points) and Hosely (19 points, 9 rebounds).

The loss drops the Broncos (13-14, 5-10 WAC) under .500 for the first time this season. The loss was also the fourth loss in February for Boise State that was decided by five points or less. The Broncos finished the month 3-6, but the loss to Fresno State did not hamper where the Broncos will play in the Western Athletic Conference tournament next week. Fresno State (15-11, 8-6) is the sixth team in the conference, but is not eligble for postseason play, giving Boise State the sixth seed/ 4 1/2 games behind fourth place Hawaii and 3 1/2 above seventh place San Jose State leaves the Broncos no where to go moving going into the regular season finale Saturday (2 p.m. Taco Bell Arena) against Idaho.

Saturday’s game will honor three seniors before tip-off. All junior college transfers, Kareem Lloyd, Banks and McNeal Thompson will play their last home game for Boise State.

Nevada is in control of the WAC’s regular season after already clinching at least a tie for first place, but four other teams are fighting for the second seed in next week’s WAC Tournament. Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Utah State and Hawai’i are all tied in the loss column with five WAC losses. Hawai’i hosts New Mexico State on Thursday and Louisiana Tech on Saturday in key games. Utah State is also at home this week with games against Fresno State on Thursday and San Jose State on Saturday.

On Friday morning, the WAC will release all of the possible tournament seeding scenarios depending on the outcome of Saturday’s final regular season games. The final brackets will be posted on the WAC’s website on Saturday night following the games at Nevada and Hawai’i. What is known right now is that Boise State is the sixth seed, San Jose State is the seventh seed and Idaho is the eighth seed.

The all-WAC teams, along with the Player, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards, will be announced on Sunday.

Arbiter Sports Staff

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