Air Force-Cold Shooting Dooms Boise State
Courtesy Boise State
Boise State was just 5 of 25 on three point shots and 36% overall shooting and that wasn't nearly enough to survive a game at Air Force as the Falcons downed the broncos 74-60.
Derrick Alston was the Bronco's only highlight with 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The 24 points was the second-high scoring game of his career. He now has three career 20-point games.
Alston also came into the night having made 19-straight free throws. He made his first seven before finally missing, ending his free throw streak at 26 – the longest for any Bronco this season.
…Zach Haney also finished in double figures with 11 points to go with a team-high six rebounds and three blocks. The three blocks is a season high and ties a career high for Haney.
Ironically, Boise Stat played well for the majority of the first half, taking the 30-17 lead at the 4:03 mark for its largest lead of the half (13 points). Air Force responded with a 16-3 run to close the half to make it a 33-33 game at the break.
The Broncos are now 3-3 in league and 8-11 overall and Boise State will return home this weekend against Wyoming, Saturday, Jan. 26 at Taco Bell Arena 2 p.m. tip
Boise State fans finding it hard to explain how the the Broncos can hang with the 7th ranked team in the nation losing at the buzzer to Nevada yet still struggle against lesser Mountain West opponents.
Head coach Leon Rice has had six straight 20 win seasons with Boise State but this year he knew would be tough losing an NBA Draft pick in Chandler Hutchison and three seniors in all who combined for 40 points a game.
That fact alone may well explain why BSU is close but still needs time to grow.