Boise State men’s basketball knocks down No. 17 Colorado State

Courtesy of Boise State Athletics

It’s storming in Boise, and it’s not just the weather. 

Bronco fans stormed the court in ExtraMile after Boise State University held out to beat the No. 17 ranked Colorado State Rams 65-58. 

In what was one of the most well rounded defensive games of the season for Boise State, the Broncos showed the Rams why ExtraMile is so special. 

“What a great atmosphere, that’s why we have this record at home,” head coach Leon Rice said. “You can’t have a great program without a great home court and these fans make it a great home court by coming and making it loud.”

With the home win against the Rams, the Broncos continue their home win streak to 22 games, which is one of the longest in the nation. 

There is no denying that Bronco Nation showed up and showed out for their beloved team, however, some fresh new faces on the Bronco squad held their own against one of the toughest opponents they have faced all season. 

In a game that would normally be handed to the known superstars of the squad such as Tyson Degenhart and Max Rice, the game was in the hands of two transfers and a freshman. 

St.John’s transfer forward O’Mar Stanley, freshman forward Andrew Meadow and University of California San Diego transfer guard Roddie Anderson made a name for themselves against Colorado State and quieted all the naysayers and doubters.

Stanley has been making a name for himself since day one. With his dominant force all season he has quickly become one of the newest superstars to step into ExtraMile Arena.

Leading the Broncos in points (17), as well as rebounds (11), Stanley notched his third double-double of the season, and there are no signs of stopping. 

“It’s a blessing to be here, be with these boys,” Stanley said. “To be on this team is truly a blessing, this team is really special.”

Meadow also had a piece of the action. During the match, Meadow was lethal from behind the arc, notching three triples. 

“Right now, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to get on the floor,” said Meadow. “I work on my game every day and I work on my shots. I was just going back to the work I put in and it paid off.”

Though Anderson was quiet all game and did not record any points of his own, the transfer led the team in assists (8) and played the second most minutes in the match, just second to Tyson Degenhart

Despite what seemed to be an incredibly lethal team from mid-range, the Broncos defense was able to hold the Rams to 47%. 

“I’m really proud of the way our guys battled,” Leon Rice said. “We played some hard minutes and they made us work. You have to work defensively to stop them, and we did a good job of that tonight. We just kept grinding.”

With the rest of the regular season ahead of them, there is tough competition on the horizon. With upcoming opponents, the team will need to be as dialed in as possible, turning up the toughness and honing in on the small minute things that can be improved. 

“We have some toughness on this team, mental and physical and athleticism,” Leon Rice said. “But none of that matters unless you have the grit and toughness to do it. We got tough guys every guy that plays here, you don’t get to play here if you’re not tough. That’s what it takes to win.”

The energy in ExtraMile was comparable to the energy in the iconic win over No. 18 ranked San Diego State University during the 2022-23 season. However, the Broncos outdid themselves and defeated another top ranked opponent.

With the win over a No. 17 ranked team, the win can be deemed incredibly crucial when it comes time for the NCAA Tournament in March.

After the notorious win against SDSU, the Broncos secured a much needed Quad 1 win that helped build their resume to continue into the postseason. Not only does the win help give them a base to enter into March Madness, but it also puts them in the mix for the Mountain West Tournament. 

After a loss in the semifinals in the MW Tournament last year, there is no doubt the Broncos are seeking revenge, and of all the times to do so, this is the year. With a well-rounded, young, and cohesive group, the Broncos established themselves as one of the contenders for the title.

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