Here’s what’s happening in Boise State Athletics…
FOOTBALL
As Boise State prepares for the L.A. Bowl against the University of California, Los Angeles, sophomore running back Ashton Jeanty and sophomore linebacker Andrew Simpson were named All-Americans by College Football Network.
Jeanty is the first Bronco to receive All-America honors since 2020 and is the 29th player in school history to be named First Team All-America.
In the midst of their success, Mountain West Championship offensive MVP, redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylen Green declared for the transfer portal and committed to Arkansas on Dec. 11. Read more about the transfer here.
The Broncos will have to choose between true freshman CJ Tiller and redshirt sophomore Colt Fulton at quarterback ahead of the matchup with UCLA.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Broncos had two home games this week, beating both the University of North Texas and Western Oregon University.
Against North Texas, Boise State trailed by six points with 1:49 in the second half, but locked in and went on an 11-0 run with help from a late three-pointer from Chibuzo Agbo and six combined free throws from Tyson Degenhart, Max Rice and O’mar Stanley.
To go along with the win, Agbo had a career night with 27 points and three four-point plays.
The final score was 69-64, Boise State.
“You’ve heard me talk about this team and their character and tonight it showed up,” head coach Leon Rice said. “Adversity hit us in a lot of ways tonight and there are a lot of teams who wouldn’t have found a way to win this game…I’m just really proud of them for staying in the fight.”
Western Oregon was a bit of a different story.
The Broncos went on a 13-0 run early in the second half to put them up by 20 and never looked back.
Rice, Agbo and Degenhart combined for 70 points in the 109-70 blowout victory.
“When Max starts hitting threes it makes things so much easier for me,” Agbo said. “We knew [Max] was going to keep going so we kept moving the ball while he was hot.”
The game marks the first time since 2020 that Boise State has scored 100+ points, and the first time since the 2010-2011 season that two players (Rice and Agbo) recorded six three pointers a piece.
The Broncos are now 6-3 and on a 18 game winning streak at home which is just one victory shy of the program record of 19.
Up next, the squad hosts Northwestern State University on Dec. 12 for the third of a four game homestand.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The women’s basketball had two matchups this week and went 1-1 on the week.
In the first game, Boise State routed Cal State University, Bakersfield in a 87-66 victory at home.
The team took a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, as three Broncos (Mya Hansen, Dani Bayes and Natalie Pasco) had 15 points in the contest.
“We had two really good practices after the Eastern game,” Bayes said. “We knew coming into this week what we wanted to show on the court and we did that.”
Unfortunately, the next game against rival Brigham Young University was a different story.
The game featured three lead changes during just the first quarter, with the Cougars getting the best of the first half, closing it with two three pointers, heading to the locker room with a 37-26 lead.
In the second half, the Broncos fought hard, but never came within seven. BYU went on a 10-2 run in the third quarter and secured a 65-50 win over Boise State.
“We had some opportunities early. You have to make plays,” Gordy Presnell We didn’t execute anything really well. You have to make baskets to win.”
The Broncos have three games before Christmas, the first of which is on Dec. 12 at home against Rocky Mountain College.
TRACK AND FIELD
Boise State’s track and field team traveled to Spokane, Washington for the Spokane Invitational.
Two Broncos landed first place finishes, as graduate student Janiah Brown took gold in the women’s 600m with a time of 1:32.13.
Junior Anass Mghari finished with Boise State’s fastest men’s 600m time since the 2009-2010 season, posting a 1:18.44 and clinching the gold medal in the contest.
The Broncos continue their season in 2024 where they’ll return to Spokane for the Cougar Classic on January 12-13, as well as sending part of the team to Seattle for the UW Indoor Preview on January 13.
VOLLEYBALL
Boise State junior Paige Bartsch has been named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Pacific North Region Honorable Mention
With the honorable mention, Bartsch has received her first AVCA postseason recognition and just the fifth Bronco all-time to earn all-region honorable mention status and the first since 2021.
Read more about the 2023 volleyball season and Bartsch’s career season here.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Boise State announced their 2024 beach volleyball schedule.
Click here to see who the Broncos’ will face this next year.
