LAS VEGAS — Boise State pulled off a significant upset in the Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinals, led by Tyson Degenhart’s 22-point performance. As the fifth seed, the Broncos secured a narrow 72-69 victory over the tournament’s top-seeded team, New Mexico, on Friday. A crucial moment came with only 46 seconds left on the clock when Andrew Meadow sank a decisive 3-pointer, sealing the win for Boise State.
Degenhart played an integral role for the Broncos, shooting 8 out of 14 from the field, including 2 out of 7 from beyond the arc, and successfully making 4 out of 6 free throws. Emmanuel Ugbo contributed significantly with 17 points, alongside five rebounds and three blocks. Meadow also added to the scoreboard by shooting 4 of 12 overall and converting all six of his free-throw attempts to finish with 16 points. This victory extended Boise State’s impressive winning streak to six consecutive games.
For the Lobos, Donovan Dent was a standout performer with 23 points and five assists. Nelly Junior Joseph supported New Mexico’s efforts with 19 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Additionally, Mustapha Amzil contributed with 10 points and six rebounds.
The first half saw Degenhart contributing nine points to Boise State’s efforts as they went into halftime trailing 34-28. However, the second half witnessed a strong comeback by Boise State, largely bolstered by Ugbo’s 13 points, allowing them to outscore New Mexico by nine points in that period.
