Hutch is Clutch as BSU’s NIT Road Heads to Illinois
Boise States come from behind win in the NIT opener at Utah was the Broncos first ever post season tournament win on the road. BSU is now 4-4 in NIT play and on to the second round at Illinois next Monday at 7 p.m.
Boise State trailed by 11 in the second half against the Utes but went on a 16-1 run to take a 10 point lead with 45 seconds to play en-route to a 73-68 victory. The 11 point comeback matched the highest deficit the broncos have overcome this season.
Boise State is now 20-11, the 5th straight 20 win season and the 6th in the 7 years Leon Rice has been head coach. Only 26 other schools nationally have had five consecutive 20 game win seasons!
Ironically, Boise State relies on three pointers to win games. They had 20 in crushing Air Force 98-70 in the regular season finale but last night BSU was just 3 of 16 from downtown and in fact, several of their three point attempts were air balls.
Instead, the Broncos relied on Chandler Hutchison driving to the bucket. He scored a career high 34 points, the most by a Bronco in a post season game.
The Broncos also received energy from the bench as freshman Marcus Dickinson scored a career high 12 points, 10 in the second half including a three pointer to tie the game at 61. Dickinson scored 9 of his 12 points by driving the lane.
It wasn't just offense that got the job done as late in the second half BSU went on a blocked shot frenzy. Nick Duncan and Zack Haney each had two shots blocked in the final 6 minutes and those turnovers were key to sparking the comeback.
So next up is Illinois Monday March 20 at 7 p.m..The only previous meeting between the two schools was in 2009 with BSU losing 84-77 also at Illinois.