Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Boise State Women Defeat Wyoming 70-68

A sweep tonight--Broncos beat the Cowboys and the Lady Broncos top the Cowgirls!

Shorthanded Boise State Bumps #25 Wyoming From Unbeaten Ranks

For the four Boise State basketball players suspended prior to the big game with #25 Wyoming--they don't get to experience the thrill of knocking of one of just four undefeated teams in the nation.

For those Broncos who played by the rules, they were just fine, thank-you.  Jeff Elorriaga's three-pointer at the buzzer gave Coach Leon Rice's squad a 63-61 win in Laramie tonight.

Elorriaga finished with 18, including 6-10 from three-point range, but none bigger than the money shot to give the Broncos the win.  Wyoming's Josh Adams had put the home team up 61-60 with nine seconds left before Elorriaga's heroics.

The game was a see-saw affair in the wild last minutes.  Boise State took a 31-26 lead going into halftime.  But the Cowboys erupted for an 19-4 run to take a 45-35 lead.  Derrious Gilmore had eight of those points to lead the Wyoming surge.   

But a three-pointer by Thomas Bropleh and a steal and layup by Igor Hadziomerovic with 7:01 left brought the Broncos all the way back to tie the game at 45.  Leonard Washington's layup with 5:15 remaining gave Wyoming a 50-47 lead but Hadziomerovic hit a triple on the next possession for Boise State.

Rice's team played incredible in the next stretch and threatened to take command, with a three by Anthony Drmic, a jumper by Hadziomerovic and a layup by Bropleh with 2:48 left that gave Boise State a 57-50 lead.  

Riley Grabau gave Wyoming a much-needed basket on the ensuing possession and after a foul on Drmic scrambling for position on an inbounds play, Leonard canned a three for the Cowboys to make it 57-55, Boise State.  Washington then electrified the Laramie crowd with a steal and dunk to the score with 1:19 left.

Grabau sank two free throws to extend the Cowboy run to nine with just 44 seconds left.  But the Broncos found another gear.  Elorriaga nailed a three-pointer with 31 seconds left to put the Broncos up 60-59 leading to the fantastic finish.

Drmic finished with 18 points to tie Elorriaga for the team lead while Hadziomerovic finished with 11 for Boise State.  Ryan Watkins hauled down six rebounds to lead the Broncos in that department.  Gilmore finished with 17 points to pace Wyoming while Washington and Adams chipped in with 12 each and Grabau 10.

Wyoming fell to 13-1 with the loss while Boise State is 13-2.  The Bronco win sets up a meeting with another Top 25 team, New Mexico, in Taco Bell Arena next Wednesday.

If you don't already have tickets, you better pick them up pronto or you'll get shut out.