Boise State Withstands Nevada Surge, Beats Wolf Pack 74-67

Slow starts are always possible for any team. In this game, both teams were stuck in molasses. It had taken two minutes and twenty-six seconds for EITHER team to score. It was Nevada, unfortunately, but luckily for the Broncos games are not won in the first five minutes. They are won in the first twenty!

Once the initial seal was broken on the scoring bottle, both teams were able to get in their respective grooves. Nevada was able to take the lead and hold for for about 51 seconds. From there it was all Broncos as they pulled away from the Wolf Pack with the largest lead of the half at fourteen.

Webb was playing like the three-time All-MWC player he is: 9 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists at the half. He also had a pretty decent dunk on an assist from Drmic.

Thompson had 7 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists.

Nevada's Cooper had 8 points and 2 rebounds.

Coleman with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The Broncos defense was able to limit the Wolf Pack looks and force Nevada to shoot only 33% from the field in the first half. Surprisingly the Broncos were able to stay out of, relative, foul trouble as Nevada actually led that 10-8 at the half. The Broncos had shot more free throws as well, twelve for Boise State vs four for Nevada.

The Broncos went into the half with a 35-24 lead.

The second half, the Broncos needed to keep the momentum, extend their already double-digit lead, and actually put away the Wolf Pack,.

So, of course, that did not happen.

The Nevada Wolf Pack started on a 8-0 run that trimmed the lead to 35-32. It was not until the 17:21 mark when the Broncos hit their first points from Thompson with a layup to make it 37-32.

The Wolf Pack head steadily closed the gap on the Broncos when Leon Rice disagreed with a foul on Drmic (would be his third). So much so Rice got his first technical foul of the year. Thankfully Nevada had only hit one of those free throws.

Not to be outdone, Eric Musselman also got his own technical questioning a foul on Nevada's Oliver.

The teams would trade scores for over seven minutes. Boise State would score two, Nevada would answer. The Broncos could not stretch the lead beyond four.

The Broncos shook the rust, bolstered by Thompson's early 9 points in the second half, and was able to start pulling away from the Wolf Pack, getting to a 14 point lead. But the Wolf pack stayed aggressive despite getting into foul trouble. Nevada's Oliver had fouled out midway in the second half.

The Wolf Pack was able to chip away at the Broncos lead to get within three 63-60. But a huge three by Duncan swung the momentum back to the Broncos. Sparking a 14-7 run.

Despite the Bronco M.O. of gaining a big first half lead, and blowing it in the second, they withstood the Wolf Pack surge eventually winning 74-67.

Webb had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Thompson led Bronco's Scoring with 18 points, three rebounds, and four assists.

Nevada's Coleman led the Wolf Pack with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.