(Courtesy BroncoSports.com)
PROVO, Utah – Emmanuel Akot drilled a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to break a late tie and lift Boise State to a 74-70 road win Wednesday, over BYU. RayJ Dennis matched his career high with 19 points and added five assists, including finding Akot at the top of the key for the game winner.
Boise State (3-1) led by 12 with 16 minutes to play before BYU (5-2) made nine of its next 11 shots and cut the deficit to two at 52-50. Abu Kigab stepped up for the Broncos, scoring 12 of the team’s next 15 points, including a pair of three-pointers, stretching the lead back to six at 67-61. Kigab scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half.
BYU managed to tie the game at 70 with 36 seconds to go, but Akot’s huge shot secured the big road win in a game they never trailed.
Akot finished the game just as he started it, connecting from beyond the arc. He made the first basket of the game, sparking a 14-0 run for Boise State to start, as the Bronco defense held BYU without a field goal for the first 8:39.
The harassing defense continued all game, as the Broncos forced BYU into 14 turnovers and limited the Cougars to seven three-pointers, matching their season low.
Max Rice chipped in nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals off the bench. Rice rebounded a BYU miss with 1.9 seconds left and was fouled. He made the first free throw to provide the final margin, before missing the second to force the Cougars to go the length of the floor. They did not get a shot up before the buzzer sounded.
Akot finished with a career-high 13 points and matched his career best with six rebounds. Alston was the fourth Bronco in double figures with 12 points.
Alex Barcello scored 22 points for BYU, making 4-of-6 three-point attempts. Barcello tied the game twice, including with under a minute to go, but his look with two seconds left missed and Rice soared for the rebound while being fouled before making his clinching free throw.
