It had been a total of 434 days since the men’s basketball team last lost a game in ExtraMile Arena, but now the Broncos are back to square one.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas downed the Boise State Broncos 68-64 at home to not only snap the longest home win streak in the nation but also the longest home win streak in Bronco history.
With a halftime 36-34 deficit, it was the Broncos first time trailing at the half at home all season, and the team couldn’t seem to come back from it.
“We just didn’t have a good start,” Tyson Degenhart said. “The past couple games we’ve been able to play well in those first 10 minutes … they had a 10 point lead 7:22 into the game, and we just couldn’t recover from it.”
Not only did the Broncos get out to a slow start, but the Broncos bench was heavily outscored by the Runnin’ Rebels 20-2.
“They have to give us stuff off the bench,” Leon Rice said. “No doubt. … That first group (starting five) was competing their tail off … there were some minutes where maybe it looked different and it can’t be like that.”
Despite what we have seen throughout the season, the Broncos were struggling off the bench, a feeling that is all too familiar to last season’s lackluster bench production.
Though snapping the home win streak stings, there is much to learn from.
“Energy,” Leon Rice said. “You have to play really, really hard.”
On any given night, the Mountain West Conference is a toss up, no matter the record, any opponent can win.
“It’s about response”, Leon Rice said. “Whether you win or lose. It’s about learning the level you have to play at.”
The team also saw just how valuable making free throws are. In a close four point game, the Broncos had the possibility to flip the script down the stretch with free throws, however went 12-18 from the line throughout the game.
“When all the dust settles it’s you know, like I always say there’s two things that don’t last,” head coach Leon Rice said. “Dogs chase cars and teams that don’t make free throws.”
The Broncos will look to bounce back on Saturday, Jan. 20 at ExtraMile against San Diego State in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
