The Boise State men’s basketball team faced a disappointing defeat on January 3, 2024, losing 75-58 to Grand Canyon University in a Mountain West Conference matchup at ExtraMile Arena. This loss marks the Broncos’ second consecutive defeat in conference play, bringing their record to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the Mountain West.
The game began with the Broncos trailing 37-27 at halftime. In the second half, Boise State quickly fell behind by 18 points. Although the team managed to narrow the deficit to four points, Grand Canyon responded decisively to maintain control. The Lopes improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference with this victory.
Boise State struggled offensively, shooting just 34.7 percent from the field (17 of 49) and 21.1 percent from three-point range (4 of 19). Despite showing strength at the foul line with an impressive 80 percent conversion rate (20 of 25), the Broncos finished the game with only six assists. In contrast, Grand Canyon dominated the boards, out-rebounding Boise State 38-28.
Following the game, head coach Leon Rice did not hold back in his critique of the team’s performance. “Credit Grand Canyon. They came out with some desperation,” Rice stated in his postgame radio interview. “We came with like ‘OK, we’re going to play basketball, but we’re not going to fight.’ 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.”
Rice highlighted the team’s inability to respond to the pressure from Grand Canyon. “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.” The coach emphasized that the Lopes played with a physical edge, stating, “They came out with an attitude that they didn’t care if they fouled. They were the aggressor and got us on our heels.”
Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Rice noted a need for greater tactical awareness from his guards. “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,’ and we settled for bad shots.” He pointed out that the team often took low-percentage shots instead of capitalizing on free throw opportunities, saying, “When nothing is working, you can get to the free throw line.”
This loss serves as a stark reminder for the Broncos as they seek to regain their footing in the Mountain West Conference. With upcoming games on the horizon, Rice and his team will need to regroup and find a way to enhance their performance in order to compete effectively against their rivals.
