Broncos buck the odds

Hope you didn’t make any significant plans today. There’s wall-to-wall basketball, including a conference tournament title game, the sport’s most famed rivalry, coaching news, and so much more.

But first, let’s get into Friday.

1. Boise State’s ‘great moment’ gives it a chance at MWC title

Boise State did what no other team’s done this season: Win at San Diego State.

Now it just needs a little help to claim a share of the Mountain West title.

The Broncos’ 79-77 overtime win on Friday night pushed them into a tie (for now) with Utah State atop the league. However, Boise (22-9, 13-5) needs the Aggies to lose today vs. New Mexico to tie. (Added bonus: Nevada also can finished 13-5.)

But that’s for later today. For now, let’s revel in what the Broncos did as road underdogs.

San Diego State (22-9, 11-7) hadn’t lost at home since Jan. 31, 2023, and just twice in the last three seasons. One of those was to Boise State, which showed some impressive resolve on Friday. SDSU twice held 10-point leads, but the Broncos rallied both times. And with 1:58 remaining in OT, and nursing a 2-point lead, they got a little luck, too.

“When he let that go, I kind of knew it was in,” coach Leon Rice said. “It's lucky, it's not lucky, I don't know. Shooters have a better chance.”

Max Rice says he practices deep 3s — “not that deep, obviously” — and was ready for a big moment. He’d left the court with a knee injury earlier in the half, and when he returned he and his father “were going back and forth those last couple possessions; he kept yelling at me, didn't think I was doing enough. I play better with my back against the wall and that was kind of a look at him moment like I just felt like I had to make it or he was going to cut me the next day.”

It wasn’t the last timely shot the Broncos got, either.

The Aztecs would tie it after a basket by Micah Parrish and a 3-pointer from Darrion Trammell. After Roddie Anderson III — whose jumper forced OT — missed a jumper, Cam Martin corralled the rebound, got fouled and made two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining to seal the win.

If Rice’s heave was a magical moment, Martin’s rebound and free throws were just as amazing. Now in his seventh season of college hoops (he played at Jacksonville State, was a three-time D-II All-American at Missouri Southern, and was a two-time redshirt at Kansas due to a lingering shoulder injury), Martin finished with 10 points and four offensive rebounds, two of them in OT.

“He went and got two of the biggest rebounds of our season,” Leon Rice said, via the Idaho Statesman. “That’s why he came here, to have a moment like this. He’s gone through a lot with his shoulder, and he’s been frustrated. What a great moment he gets to remember for the rest of his life.”

2. Dayton’s wild rally + more Friday results

Down 17 points at home? Playing without your point guard? Just another day at the office for Dayton.

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