A few days after fans and media members criticized Boise State’s bench for a lack of production – and coach Leon Rice for not playing them more – a trio of Broncos made sure to quiet that talk on Saturday.
Cam Martin, Jace Whiting and Andrew Meadow combined for 10 points in 36 minutes off the bench to help the Boise State men’s basketball team to a need 67-66 win over Mountain West favorite San Diego State on Saturday at ExtraMile Arena.
Boise State’s had just two points in a 68-64 loss to UNLV on Tuesday and had just 15 total points in four conference games before Martin, Whiting and Meadow all hit key 3-pointers and helped provide a few minutes of valuable rest for the starters.
With the win the Broncos improved to 15-4 overall and 4-1 in Mountain West play ahead of a Tuesday road trip to Fresno State.
“They are the key to our season,” Rice said. “As much I haven’t given them enough minutes, they are the key for us to be a great team and that’s why I think we can still improve a ton more. We have to keep improving those guys and keep having them ready. And there’s other guys who haven’t even gotten a chance yet who can help this team and we need to help this team.
“Sometimes it’s on me a little bit but you can take personal responsibility and it’s on them and they did. Those three guys were huge tonight.”
O’Mar Stanley had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead the Broncos, but the biggest offensive contributor may have been Roddie Anderson III. With San Diego State sagging off and daring him to shoot, Anderson had a season-high 14 points and added two assists and a steal.
Chibuzo Agbo and Tyson Degenhart each had 11 points for the Broncos, who picked their fourth Quad 1 win after finishing all of last season with three.
Whiting, who had played just 19 total minutes in the previous three games including just six against UNLV, played 16 minutes off the bench and hit a key 3-pointer to extend Boise State’s lead in the second half. He also had a nice drive and baseline pass to Meadow for his 3-pointer from the corner in the first half.
He also two assists while playing some with Anderson together to spell Rice and some without Anderson to give him a breather.
“What you saw last year was a kid we all love because of how hard he plays, how gritty he was, how tough he was, how engaged – and I think we saw that Jace tonight,” Rice said. “The Jace can play in this league and help us and hit big shots. That’s what I saw.”
Boise State trailed 50-49 with 8:08 to go before ripping off a 14-4 run to take control of the game at 63-54 with 2:51 to go.
San Diego State made it interesting late with a couple 3-pointers and buckets, but the Broncos hung on for a needed win to hold serve at home after their nation-leading 22-game home winning streak came to an end on Tuesday against UNLV.
The Broncos have now won 5 of the past 6 games against the Aztecs, who advanced all the way to the National Championship Game a year ago.
“What epic games we’ve had with those guys over the years,” Rice said. “They all come down to that, what you saw. I was really proud of our guys. They kept sawing wood and that’s what it takes. You can’t get discouraged when everything doesn’t go your way because that team makes it not go your way and you have to earn it.
“We were fortunate at the end to be one point ahead.”
Boise State hits the road for a Tuesday night game at Fresno State. Tip off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and the game will air nationally on FS1.
