Expected was the third aspect against the top-tier defense of the San Diego Aztecs. The first two areas, however, have been key strengths for the Broncos (11-4, 3-1) this season. Both failed and contributed to the 76-68 loss to the Aztecs.
A late, final minute flurry made things interesting for Boise State. A Julian Bowie three-pointer, followed by an Andrew Meadow steal and bucket brought the Broncos within five. Coupled with San Diego State missing free throws, there was hope but Boise State could not find another bucket the rest of the game.
It was a cold stretch from the field earlier in the second half that Boise State could not overcome. After an Alvaro Cardenas three-pointer brought the Broncos within one at 58-57, Boise State went over six minutes without a field goal.
Cardenas was in foul trouble much of the game and finished with nine points on 3 of 12 shooting. Cardenas had six assists but also four turnovers.
Tyson Degenhart had struggles of his own, connecting on only 1 of 7 from the field in finishing with nine points. Forced outside due to San Diego State's defense, Degenhart missed all five of his three-point attempts and Boise State was only 7 of 30 as a team from deep.
O'Mar Stanley, coming off the bench again, picked up three first-half fouls and finished with four points and five rebounds.
With those three players struggling, Chris Locket Jr. stepped up. The redshirt freshman finished with a career-high 16 points, knocking down three 3-pointers, and carrying the team through much of first half.
First half
Boise State started off rather nicely, with Meadow scoring the team's first four points. The lead for the Broncos stayed between two and four points the game's first seven minutes or so, reaching as large as seven on a Bowie three-pointer with 12:45 left.
After going up 18-12, the Aztecs defense kept Boise State stagnant. San Diego State (9-3, 2-1) rattled off a 13-4 run, taking their first lead at the 7:19 mark of the half.
Back and forth the teams went in the half's closing minutes, ending with four ties and three lead changes. Miles Byrd carried the Aztecs, totaling 14 points in the half, as San Diego State took a 33-32 halftime lead.
Lockett and Meadow each scored eight points in the half, with Degenhart and Bowie scoring five apiece.
Second half
Byrd picked right up where he left, connecting on an early three-pointer. The Aztecs managed to keep the lead between four and six points before Boise State clawed back into the game.
Degenhart's only field goal of the game came at the 12:53 mark of the half, off a beautiful pass from Lockett on the fast break. The bucket tied the score at 47.
Second chance points by San Diego State continued to hamper the Broncos, with the lead by the Aztecs again extending to six points. Five straight points by Cardenas brought the score to 58-57 and the Broncos looked in good shape before going cold down the stretch.
Meadow finished with 14 points and Bowie added 10.
For the Aztecs, Byrd finished with a game-high 22 points and Taj DeGournville added 13 points and six rebounds.
San Diego State had 21 second-chance points and 15 offensive rebounds, overall outrebounding the Broncos by 10.
The loss ended a five-game winning streak for Boise State. The Broncos had also won three in a row against the Aztecs and six of the last seven meetings between the two teams.
Boise State looks to begin their home win streak anew with a meeting against UNLV on January 7.
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