No. 22 San Diego State made six free throws in the final eight seconds and sent Boise State to the line instead of allowing a look at a potential tying three-pointer twice, to hang on for a 62-58 victory Saturday at Viejas Arena. Boise State crept within one point on five different occasions in the final five minutes, but could not get over the hump.
The loss drops Boise State to 18-6 overall and 14-5 in Mountain West play, falling into fourth place in the conference standings. The Broncos were atop the table when the week began. The Aztecs (19-4, 13-3 MW) are now in first place, thanks to a series sweep of the Broncos, running their winning streak to 10 games.
Devonaire Doutrive and Marcus Shaver, Jr. led the Broncos with 13 points apiece. Mladen Armus joined them in double figures with 10 points.
Shaver capped a 7-0 Boise State run with a three-pointer that brought the Broncos within one at 49-48 with 4:23 to play. Doutrive later connected on a three-pointer to make it 52-51 with 3:29 to go. The Bronco pair traded baskets with San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah. Doutrive’s driving layup with 16 seconds left again made it a one-point game before free throws decided the outcome.
Boise State shot 35.2 percent from the floor, including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from three-point range. The Broncos were 2-for-18 from beyond the arc in the first half and trailed 24-20 at the break.
The Aztecs stretched their lead to as many as nine early in the second half before the Broncos responded.
The Broncos were effective on the defensive end, holding San Diego State to 39.7 percent field goal shooting and 27.8 percent three-point shooting. Boise State limited the Aztecs to 5.5 triples per game on 29.7 percent shooting for the series. They entered the week averaging more than nine three-pointers per game at 38.7 percent – ranking 15th nationally.
Boise State returns home for its regular-season finale March 2, against Fresno State. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network.
