MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Welcome to Boise State, Chibuzo Agbo.
The Texas Tech transfer, who had more fouls than points in his first three games with the Broncos, busted out for a career-high 24 points to lead Boise State to an impressive and much-needed 70-48 win over Loyola Chicago on Friday night in the second round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
Agbo, who hit 5 of 7 from 3-point range for the game, had 17 points in the second half alone to fuel a 16-0 Boise State run which put the game away.
“That’s the Chibuzo we have seen and know,” coach Leon Rice told Bronco Nation News. “Everybody in our program knew that was Chibuzo and we were just waiting to get to that.
“We had some good talks about just letting your talent take over and let it come to you and I thought he did a great job of that tonight.”
Agbo fouled out and didn’t score in his Boise State debut against South Dakota State and then had just 11 total points in the next three games. He had more fouls, 12, and had yet to score more than six points in a game before breaking out in a big way.
He made 7 of 12 shots from the field and all five of his free throws. He hit three 3-pointers during the big Boise State run in the second half.
“It just felt like I really found a rhythm,” Agbo said. “It felt really good. I saw one go in and the basket just looked huge for me.
“I feel like tonight I was invested in my teammates and wanted my team to do well and I feel like that carried over. I think I went through the adversity for a reason and it taught me a lot of things.”
Boise State (2-2) got 19 points from Tyson Degenhart and 10 points each from Marcus Shaver Jr. 10 and Max Rice. Freshman Sara NgaNga had five points on a dunk and 3-pointer in his best game as a Bronco.
Boise State led just 36-31 at the break before busting it open in the second half.
It was a much different feeling than 24 hours prior when the Broncos scored 11 points in the first half and suffered a 54-42 loss to Charlotte in the first round of the tournament.
“I’m really, really pleased with the way they bounced back,” Rice said. “That’s a good team we beat. They are going to win a lot of games.
“I was banking on the character of these players. We have great leadership on this team and that makes all the difference in the world. I can say everything and no this or that but ultimately when they say it it’s more powerful and they were doing a lot of great things.”
Said Agbo: “That’s a very good win. It’s a long season and we’re a team that can bounce back well. We had a lot of honest communication and realized we had to move as a unit and be one and that really showed tonight.”
Boise State will play Colorado on Sunday at 5 p.m. MT in the fifth-place game. The Buffaloes crushed No. 24 Texas A&M earlier on Friday.
Colorado will be the fifth team ranked in the top 140 at KenPom the Broncos will play in five games to start the season. No other team in the top 120 at KenPom can say that.
“You look at who we’ve played so far and it’s crazy,” Rice said. “Now we have another Pac-12 team. But it’s made us get better. It accelerates it. Your issues are your issues until you confront them and we’re confronting them and working through them.”