The Boise State men’s basketball team faced a challenging defeat against the Grand Canyon Lopes, losing 75-58 on January 3, 2024, at ExtraMile Arena. This marked the Broncos’ second consecutive loss in Mountain West Conference play, bringing their season record to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Boise State trailed 37-27 at halftime and fell behind by as many as 18 points in the second half. Despite a determined effort that saw them narrow the gap to just four points, the Lopes, now 9-5 with a 2-1 conference record, regained control to secure the victory. The Broncos struggled offensively, shooting only 34.7 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from three-point range, managing just six assists throughout the game. However, they excelled at the free-throw line, converting 20 of 25 attempts for an 80 percent success rate. In contrast, Grand Canyon dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 38-28.
In the aftermath of the game, head coach Leon Rice expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance. He noted the Lopes came in with a sense of urgency, stating, “Credit Grand Canyon. They came out with some desperation. They got beat at home, and they came with desperation. We came with like ‘OK, we’re going to play basketball, but we’re not going to fight.’”
Rice further criticized his team, declaring, “We were the softest I’ve seen us be this year. We got punked on the glass by 10, and they were just so much tougher than us.” He emphasized the need for a stronger response in tough situations, lamenting the missed opportunities his players faced.
“We had a good little stretch in the second half where we made a run at them, and they responded. We looked like we were running in sand. They were a step faster than us, they were a step tougher than us,” Rice observed, highlighting the disparity in energy and aggression between the two teams.
The head coach also pointed out the team’s lack of strategic play, particularly in terms of drawing fouls. He noted that even when they were in the bonus, the Broncos settled for difficult shots instead of taking advantage of opportunities to reach the free-throw line. “You look at their guard Jaden Henley, he dribbles the whole possession, and he knows how to get fouled. I’m telling our guys, ‘We’re in the bonus, we’re in the bonus,’ and we settled for bad shots,” Rice explained.
A significant concern for Rice was the lack of assists, especially given that the team featured two point guards. “You can’t play two point guards and have six assists for the whole game,” he remarked, underlining the need for better court awareness and decision-making from his players.
As the Broncos regroup, they will need to address these issues in preparation for their next matchup. The loss to Grand Canyon serves as a stark reminder of the competitive nature of the Mountain West Conference and the importance of resilience and toughness on the court.
