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Broncos beat Albany in ESPN Bracket Buster
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It was a game the Boise State fans in attendance won’t soon forget. The Boise State men’s basketball team came out on top in a game that came down to the last shot Friday night against the University at Albany Great Danes, winning 83-82.
It was a game Boise State Head Coach Greg Graham said was special in more ways than one.
“You couldn’t have scripted tonight much better,” he said. “It was a storybook finish and there was something special in the air at Taco Bell Arena this evening.”
Trailing 82-80 with less than 39 seconds remaining, freshman standout Anthony Thomas nailed a three-point basket to put Boise State up 83-82. Albany, however, had a chance to win it with 5.4 seconds left but came up short, adding to the intense atmosphere created by the frenzied fans.
“This is an atmosphere we love to play in,” Thomas said. “We played unselfish ball tonight and that made the difference for us.”
Thomas scored 16 points in the win. The Broncos were forced to find other scoring options all night as leading scorers Colby Karl and Matt Nelson were held to just eight points combined on 3-14 shooting from the field.
“Tonight just wasn’t their night,” Graham said. “I’ve always said we go eight or nine guys deep and when we can get production from our bench we can hang in and win games like these.”
Junior forward Reggie Larry led the Broncos with 22 points and eight rebounds and was named player of the game.
“The game was so intense I was so nervous out there,” Larry said. “I’m still nervous but we all came together tonight, stepped up and made some big plays.”
After having lost four games this season by five points or less, BSU was determined not to let this one slip from its grasp. The win wouldn’t come easy though. After six ties and 33 lead changes BSU turned a corner winning their fourth consecutive game this season, surpassing the university’s longest winning streak in nearly two seasons.
“All coach said in that last time out was ‘don’t foul, do-not-foul,’” Larry said. “They had somewhat of a clean look at their last shot as time expired but thankfully it missed and we got the win.”
The Bronco bench poured in 34 points and the team shot 57 percent from the field, including 11-22 from beyond the arc.
“Our guys came out and shot the ball well tonight,” Graham said. “Our three pointers helped us and ultimately decided the final score, but our foul shooting still needs some work.”
BSU shot just 6-14 from the free throw line Friday night.
“Free throws decide the game most of the time,” Thomas said. “Thankfully tonight we made enough to win, but we need to improve or that stat will come back to haunt us.”
Albany had little trouble at the free throw line, going 12-16, but struggled from beyond the arc shooting just 8-22 in the loss.
The Great Danes were led by American East Conference Player of the Year Jamar Wilson, who scored 22 points and dished out five assists.
“Albany was a great team,” Reggie Larry said. “They played us physical and they matched us shot for shot all the way.”
Albany led early, 19-11, but Boise State stormed back and from there neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way.
At halftime BSU welcomed back Bronco alum Gerry Washington and honored the former All-WAC standout in a special ceremony. It was Washington’s first trip back to Boise since suffering a stroke seven years ago on campus that left him paralyzed. Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier presented Washington with a framed jersey he wore while a Bronco.
The moment was bitter sweet for Anthony Thomas who wears the same number 11 that Washington wore from 1995-1999.
“It was special for me,” Thomas said. “He means a lot to this basketball program and a lot to the university.”
It was fitting, perhaps, and even ironic that Thomas hit the game winning shot wearing the same number 11 as the man many came to honor Friday night.
“You can’t help but think maybe it was meant to be,” head coach Greg Graham said. “From start to finish the guys could feel Gerry’s presence in the building tonight.”
The Broncos (15-10, 7-5) now turn their attention to next week’s Western Athletic Conference match-ups next week against San Jose State on Thursday, Feb. 22 and then Saturday, Feb.24 against No. 10 Nevada (22-2, 11-1) both at Taco Bell Arena at 7 p.m.
“We need to take our momentum and keep playing hard,” Graham said. “This is the time of year you want to be playing your best basketball and now we have to take advantage of that.”
Jake Garcin
