Oh my. Joshua Beadle hits a 3-pointer from the corner with 2.2 seconds left to stun Boise State in the finals of the Cayman Islands Classic.
Broncos go 2-1 on the Islands, but were a shot away from a championship. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/qtlE8rDieZ
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) November 27, 2024
GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN – The Boise State men’s basketball team was one missed shot from a party.
Josh Beadle had other plans.
The Boston College guard hit a step-back 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left to hand the Broncos a heartbreaking 63-61 loss on Tuesday night in the championship game of the Caymans Islands Classic.
The Broncos leave the Islands with a 2-1 record and a second-place finish in the tournament – but also with disappointment and frustration over being one shot away from bringing home a trophy.
“I’m proud of how we fought, credit to Boston College, they hit a really tough shot,” Boise State forward Javan Buchanan said. “Sometimes that’s how basketball works. It stinks, but we just have to bounce back now.
‘We’ll be back and we’ll be better. We’re definitely not giving up. Right now it stinks. Nobody likes losing. But we’ll be back.”
Buchanan had 24 points to lead the Broncos after scoring 28 points in Monday’s semifinals.
“Those two games were two of the most dominant games I’ve seen a Bronco play,” coach Leon Rice said. “He’s going to be a great player for us.”
Buchanan was great. The rest of the Broncos not so much. O’Mar Stanley had one point and fouled out for the second straight game, and preseason Mountain West Player of the Year Tyson Degenhart went just 2 of 9 from the field and had 11 points. Andrew Meadow finished with just 3 points.
Boise State’s bench outscored the starters for the second straight game.
The Broncos went just 4 of 17 from 3-point range, committed 14 turnovers and didn’t score a field goal in the final 8:55 after leading by nine at 54-45.
Boston College was No. 117 at KenPom coming in and the Broncos were eight-point favorites. It’s not a great loss – but way too early to say how, if at all, it will hurt them.
“We did some great things in this tournament and we’re going to learn a lot from it,” Rice said. “That’s what November is for. With eight new guys we’re still figuring out how the parts fit together. Each game helps you answer some of those questions.
“We’re not a finished product in November. This team has a high ceiling. If that shot misses you’re feeling great about winning the tournamnent, and they were 1 for 11 from 3 before he hit that. But, I’m proud of the way we battled.”
Boise State (5-2) returns home to face Utah Tech on Dec. 3rd at ExtraMile Arena.
POSTGAME SHOW
HIGHLIGHTS
