LAS VEGAS – Tyson Degenhart and the Boise State men’s basketball team are one win from a fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Degenhart had 22 points, becoming Boise State’s all-time leading scorer in the process, and the Broncos topped regular season champion New Mexico, 72-69, on Friday night in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Six weeks ago the Broncos were 13-7 overall and just 5-4 in conference play. On Saturday, they’ll play for a Mountain West title – and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s the greatest feeling,” Degenhart said. “Winning it my freshman year, you just got a taste of it and ever since then I’ve just wanted to get back and win it again. This will be my last go-around and there’s nothing better than to be in the Mountain West Championship Game and having an opportunity to go out with these guys with a win. Very excited for it.”
Andrew Meadow hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds left to put the Broncos in front 68-66, and New Mexico’s Donovan Dent missed a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds as the Broncos improved to 24-9 on the season and strengthened their case for an at-large bid to the big dance.
Degenhart slammed the ball at midcourt as the Broncos celebrated following the final buzzer. The Broncos could potentially earn a spot in the Big Dance even with a loss on Saturday. They hope to leave no doubt by winning and earning the automatic spot.
“That was pretty special,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said. “You just felt like we were taking blows all night and getting knocked down, we get back up and we keep hanging in there and hanging in there and made the crucial plays down the stretch.
“That’s what winners do and I’ve got a lot of winners.”
Boise State (24-9) trailed 34-28 at the half before roaring back to stun a loud, hostile, pro-New Mexico crowd down the stretch.
Emmanuel Ugbo had the game of his life, scoring 17 points, grabbing five rebounds and recording three blocks in 24 minutes off the bench. Boise State trailed 53-49 midway through the second half when Ugbo scored eight straight points, capping it off with a 3-pointer, to give the Broncos a 57-53 lead with 7:10 left.
“Today I just let it rip,” Ugbo said. “Coach always says be ready because you never know when your chance is going to come and today was my chance and I took it. … Im just so happy.”
The Broncos didn’t trail until Dent’s putback slam with 1:04 left, which sent the large crowd into a frenzy.
But Meadow calmly sunk the 3-pointer from the win to put the Broncos back in front. And they never trailed again.
“I can’t even think – I’m just so happy for this team and excited for tomorrow,” said Meadow, who finished with 16 points. “I knew it was going in. I had missed I don’t know how many before that but as a shooter you have to have that next shot mentality.
“It means everything. I put everything into this game and I’m glad everything is paying off.”
ANDREW. MEADOW.
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— Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) March 15, 2025
Alvaro Cardenas added 12 assists for the Broncos, who are back in the title game for the first time since 2022 – when they beat San Diego State to win the championship.
Tip off Saturday is slated for 4 p.m. MT on CBS. Bronco Nation News will be LIVE at 2:30 p.m. with the Lithia Ford of Boise Pregame Show from the Thomas and Mack Center.
