Broncos can’t hang on late and fall to Nevada

Final: Nevada 77, Boise State 72

Don’t be fooled, this game was CLOSE. Nevada’s padding at then end came at the foul line as the Broncos couldn’t get their shots to fall and the Wolf Pack were able to put guys on the line who made the most of their attempts. It’s Valentines Day and that game took a lot out of me, so analysis be damned—Boise State got outplayed down the stretch and did themselves no real favors on a rather poor shooting night (5-26 from 3-point range). Still, BSU was in it till the end, with a chance to take the lead at about the 1:00 mark, but a Hutchison jumper wouldn’t fall and Jordan Caroline was fouled on the other end after a Hutchison block of Caleb Martin fell right into the Wolf Pack players hands.

Boise State had five players in double-figures and were led by Lexus Williams. Chandler Hutchison had an off shooting night, but still managed a double-double (13 pts, 10 rebounds). Caleb Martin and Kendall Stephens led the Wolf Pack with 21 apiece. Frustrating game to watch, but Nevada is ranked and are the reigning MWC champs for a reason—Boise State is tantalizingly close to their level, but don’t quite have the depth of the Wolf Pack. Broncos now sit 2 games out of first place in the Mountain West and will likely need to win out to have any chance whatsoever of a regular season title...also gotta hope for a Nevada implosion that seems less and less likely by the week. 14 lead changes in this one, but the last lead change was a doozy.