No. 18 Utah State edges Boise State to grab Mountain West lead

Field Level Media|published: Sat 27th January, 18:59 2024

Jan 20, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah State Aggies guard Josh Uduje (14) calls a play against the Fresno State Bulldogs during the second half at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. credits: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Darius Brown II scored 19 points and No. 18 Utah State moved into first place in the Mountain West with a 90-84 overtime victory over Boise State on Saturday afternoon at Boise, Idaho.

Ian Martinez and Josh Uduje scored 18 points apiece for the Aggies (18-2, 6-1 MW), who won for the 17th time in their past 18 games. Great Osobor recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Isaac Johnson added 13 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out for Utah State.

Tyson Degenhart scored 24 points and O'Mar Stanley recorded 20 points and nine rebounds before fouling out for the Broncos (14-6, 5-2). Chibuzo Agbo added 15 points and Max Rice had 14 for Boise State.

Utah State scored the first six points of the overtime. Johnson drove for a layup and Osobor made two free throws before Uduje broke loose for a dunk with 1:49 left.

Degenhart later scored five straight points to pull the Broncos within 84-82 with 34 seconds left.

The game was later a two-point margin before Martinez made four free throws in the final 14.9 seconds to wrap it up.

In regulation, Degenhart converted a three-point play to give Boise State a 73-72 lead with 1:19 left in regulation. Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle was called for a technical 14 seconds later and Degenhart made both shots to make it a three-point margin.

Uduje's basket with 10.2 seconds left pulled the Aggies within 75-74. After Stanley split two free throws, Martinez drove for a layup to tie it at 76 with 1.3 seconds left to force the extra session.

Utah State shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 6 of 23 from 3-point range.

The Broncos made 40 percent of their shots and were 9 of 28 from behind the arc.

Boise State scored seven of the first nine points of the second half and took a 46-39 lead on Stanley's 3-pointer with 18:06 remaining.

Utah State responded with a 13-3 burst and held a 52-49 lead on a jumper by Brown with 11:59 left in the game.

Utah State later received baskets from Brown, Martinez and Osobor to take a 70-66 lead with 3:20 to play.

Stanley scored the next four points to tie it with 2:09 remaining.

Agbo scored 11 first-half points as Boise State led 39-37 at the break. Martinez had eight in the half for the Aggies.

—Field Level Media