After erupting for 57 points in the second half (89 total) in the College Basketball Crown opening round, the Broncos hit the century mark Wednesday, picking up a 100-93 quarterfinal victory over the Butler Bulldogs.
Boise State (26-10) shot 63 percent in the second half and 60.3 overall in outlasting the Bulldogs, who had a highly efficient output of their own.
Butler (15-20) shot 57.6 percent overall, including a blistering 65.5 in the second half. The Bulldogs aided their cause by knocking down 13 three-pointers.
The Broncos, despite the seven-point margin of victory, never really seemed in danger of giving this game away after a back-and-forth first ten minutes. Boise State knocked down 11 threes and committed only seven turnovers.
Javan Buchanan delivered a team-high 27 points on 11 of 13 shooting from the field. Buchanan was one of four Broncos who scored in double figures, joined by Tyson Degenhart (21), Alvaro Cardenas (19), and Andrew Meadow (14).
Buoyed by Buchanan, the Boise State bench combined for 38 points. Degenhart reached 2,000 points in his career late in the first half, scoring after a nice assist from RJ Keene II.
For Butler, sophomore Finley Bizjack had a career game, knocking down six 3-pointers on route to scoring a game-high 30 points.
Boise State heads to the semifinals on Saturday (4/5) against the winner of Nebraska/Georgetown. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. (ET) on Fox.
Broncos efficient from the get-to
Like the first-round game, the Broncos were in a quick hole, allowing a three-pointer by Butler right off the bat. The Broncos, however, were awake on offense, with Degenhart scoring the team's first five points.
Within the game's opening minutes, there were five lead changes, with each team catching fire early. Boise State was slightly better, shooting 6 of 8 to start and led by five with just over five minutes gone by.
Butler hung around, even with the Broncos hitting 9 of 11 shots. A quick 5-0 spurt by the Bulldogs tied the score at 23 with 11:58 left in the half, thanks to Bizjack, who was a perfect 5 of 5 from the field with 14 points.
The only tie of the half proved to be the last one of the game. Boise State rattled off a 10-0 run, with Julian Bowie and Cardenas hitting threes during that span. The Bulldogs later closed the gap to four at 35-31 but Boise State kept up their pace, leading 48-38 at the break.
Buchanan, Cardenas, and Degenhart scored 10 points apiece in the first half.
Buchanan's hot hand
Degenhart picked up right where he left off, putting the Broncos up 12 in the first seconds of the second half. Butler would not go away, closing the gap to 56-51 with 16:50 left.
Boise State responded with a 12-4 run, keyed by Buchanan. The sophomore scored 17 of Boise State's next 27 points, mixing it up with strong post moves, mid-range jumpers, and a three-pointer.
Every little dent the Bulldogs made, Boise State would swat away. A Pearson Carmichael three-pointer gave the Broncos a 16-point lead, their largest of the game, at the 9:15 mark. Butler found their range again but never really threatened, with the Bronco lead staying between seven and ten points the remainder of the game.
The Broncos missed six free throws in the second half but ultimately these missed shots did not hamper the team too much.
Carmichael (six), Keene (six), Bowie (five), and Stanley (2) rounded out the scoring for Boise State.
Degenhart, in a game which rebounds were at a premium, finished with seven. The senior added five assists, with Cardenas chipping in four.
Evan Haywood and Boden Kapke each scored 14 for the Bulldogs, with Patrick McCaffery scoring 13.
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