The Boise State men’s basketball team faced a challenging defeat against Grand Canyon on January 3, 2024. The loss marked the Broncos’ second consecutive defeat in Mountain West play, leaving them with a record of 9-6 overall and 1-3 in conference competition. The final score at ExtraMile Arena was 75-58 in favor of the Lopes, who improved to 9-5 and 2-1 in the conference.
Struggling to find their rhythm, the Broncos trailed 37-27 at halftime and quickly fell behind by 18 points in the second half. Although Boise State made a push to close the gap, pulling within four points in the final minutes, Grand Canyon responded decisively to maintain control of the game. The Broncos shot just 34.7 percent from the field, hitting 17 of 49 attempts, and struggled from long distance, making only 4 of 19 three-point attempts. In contrast, they excelled at the free-throw line, converting 20 of 25 attempts for an impressive 80 percent success rate.
The Lopes dominated the boards, out-rebounding Boise State 38-28. Head coach Leon Rice did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s performance following the game.
Coach Rice Critiques Team’s Effort
In his postgame radio interview, Rice credited Grand Canyon for their tenacity. “Credit Grand Canyon. They came out with some desperation,” he stated, noting that the Lopes were eager to bounce back after a home loss. He criticized his own team, saying, “We came with like ‘OK, we’re going to play basketball, but we’re not going to fight.’ We were the softest I’ve seen us be this year.”
Rice highlighted that the team had been outmatched physically, particularly on the glass. “We got punked on the glass by 10, and they were just so much tougher than us,” he said. He expressed disappointment in the team’s inability to respond to adversity, a trait they had demonstrated earlier in the season.
The coach pointed out moments during the game when his team seemed sluggish. “We had a good little stretch in the second half where we made a run at them, and they responded. We looked like we were running in sand. They were a step faster than us, they were a step tougher than us,” he remarked.
Strategic Misses and Lessons Learned
Rice also emphasized the need for greater basketball IQ from his players, particularly the guards. He noted the importance of drawing fouls, referencing Grand Canyon’s guard Jaden Henley, who effectively controlled the game. “You look at their guard, he dribbles the whole possession, and he knows how to get fouled. I’m telling our guys ‘We’re in the bonus, we’re in the bonus,’ and we settled for bad shots,” Rice explained.
The coach expressed frustration with his team’s shot selection, urging his players to be more strategic in critical moments. “When nothing is working, you can get to the free throw line. Our guards have to have more savvy. You can’t play two point guards and have six assists for the whole game,” he added.
As the Broncos regroup, they will need to reflect on this defeat and regain their competitive edge. The next few games will be crucial for Boise State as they aim to climb back in the Mountain West standings.
