Boise State men’s basketball opened February by grinding through adversity and leaning on roster depth.
A four-game win streak powered by Drew Fielder’s dominant surge ended Friday, Jan. 30 with a road loss to Grand Canyon. The Broncos regrouped three days later, steadying themselves with a 91–87 overtime win against Nevada at ExtraMile Arena and later fighting for a 91-90 statement win against New Mexico.
During Boise State’s earlier winning stretch, Fielder emerged as a consistent interior presence. Over that span, he averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting efficiently from the floor and stretching defenses from deep. His production anchored a balanced offense and gave the Broncos a reliable option during a stretch where they controlled tempo and dictated matchups.
Their balance shifted over the final two games of the stretch, both against Air Force and San Jose.
The loss to Grand Canyon exposed how thin the margin for error has become in conference play. The Lopes controlled extended stretches inside Global Credit Union Arena, countering Boise State’s early efficiency with sustained runs. The Broncos struggled to generate consistent offense late-game and could not fully stop Grand Canyon’s momentum, snapping the streak.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Nevada arrived in Boise desperate for a road win and turned the game into a back and forth battle. The Wolf Pack erased a late Boise State lead and forced overtime on a buzzer beater, putting pressure on a group that has already navigated multiple close games this season.
Through a game that went back and forth, Boise State turned to Dylan Andrews.
The senior guard delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, finishing with 25 points, six assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes. Andrews shot 7 of 12 from the field, knocking down two 3-pointers and shooting 9 of 10 at the free throw line, repeatedly settling the Broncos when possessions tightened late in regulation and overtime.
Andrews knocked down a step-back 3 with 44 seconds remaining in overtime to put the Broncos ahead 88-85, before converting three of four free throws to close out the game.
Andrews surpassed 1,000 career points during the win, a milestone he said he didn’t even realize he reached until after the game.
“I didn’t even know I hit the 1,000 career points tonight,” Andrews said. “It felt amazing, and especially just how my teammates congratulated me. I love these guys right here. So me having 1,000 points, that’s God right there.”
Head coach Leon Rice pointed to the work behind the milestone, emphasizing the patience and accountability that shaped Andrews’ growth through his career.
“I’m so proud of him, because I feel like he really had a breakthrough the other day at practice, and to see it translate to him being the player that we’re working towards,” Rice said. “When accountability results in growth instead of resistance, it’s so rewarding.”
Javan Buchanan also had a strong outing for the Broncos with 23 points, five rebounds and two assists. He finished 9 of 9 from the foul line.
Buchanan said milestone moments like Andrews’ 1,000th career point reveal a team’s identity.
“You learn that’s your character,” Buchanan said. “When you’re up big and things look ugly and they start coming back, how you respond shows what kind of team you are.”
The momentum carried into Saturday’s road game at New Mexico, as Andrews poured in a career-high 33 points, tying a season best with five three-pointers and a perfect 10 for 10 from the free throw line. Across the two-game stretch, Andrews averaged 29 points while shooting just over 60% from the field.
The performances earned Andrews Old Trapper Mountain West Player of the Week honors, his second such recognition and his first in conference play. He became the seventh Boise State guard to receive the award and helped the Broncos secure back-to-back wins during a critical stretch of the season.
With conference play tightening and postseason positioning at stake, the Broncos are no longer relying on one hot stretch or one dominant stat line to carry them. Fielder’s earlier surge provided a foundation, but the last week showed a team learning how to win through balance, composure and collective response.
Despite a disappointing loss to Grand Canyon a couple weeks ago, the two recent wins are keeping them pushing forward as March approaches.
