COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Reserve guard Pavle Kuzmanovic hit a key 3-pointer with 1:29 to play despite not appearing in the previous four games and the Boise State men;s basketball team held off a late Air Force rally for a key 59-52 road win at Clune Arena on Tuesday night.
Max Rice had a game-high 22 points for the Broncos (18-5, 8-2 MW), who lost starters Marcus Shaver Jr. and Naje Smith to injuries. Coach Leon Rice admitted after the game there is “huge concern” about the status of both players moving forward.
The Broncos head to San Diego State for a huge showdown with San Diego State on Friday at 7 p.m. MT on FS1. The Aztecs and Broncos are tied atop the Mountain West standings at 8-2 after San Diego State lost at Nevada late Tuesday night.
Kuzmanovic hadn’t played since a road win at Wyoming on January 14th, but saw nearly 26 minutes of action off the bench on Tuesday. He hit a 3-pointer in the first half before his dagger from the top of the key extended Boise State’s lead to 55-50 with 90 seconds to play.
“Nothing special man, I just made the play,” Kuzmanovic said. “I made the 3. … That’s just me, I have big confidence and believe in myself.”
Shaver Jr. had 12 points prior to leaving with the injury, while Tyson Degenhart had nine points.
Boise State shot just 43.1 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from 3-point range, while Air Force shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3.
The Broncos led 36-21 early in the second half but Air Force rallied to take a 46-45 lead with 7:01 to play.
Degenhart’s bucket put the Broncos back in front, and they never gave up the lead the rest of the way.
Boise State led 52-50 when Kuzmanovic hit the dagger from the top of the key. Rice added two free throws and Agbo had a dunk in the final seconds as the Broncos hung on for a third-straight win.
Bronco Nation News talked with Leon Rice, Max Rice and Kuzmanovic after the game. Watch those interviews below:
