The overall depth of Boise State propelled the Broncos to an 80-68 win over Air Force this afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada as the Broncos advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament for the second consecutive year.
With Derrick Marks in foul trouble in the first half that limited him to only six minutes, Boise State turned to their long-range game, namely the three-point shot. Four Broncos nailed a collective five treys (2 from Nick Duncan and one each from James Webb III, Mikey Thompson and Rob Heyer) as Boise State took a 32-28 lead into the locker room.
Marks took charge in the paint in the second half, and, as the Falcons turned all their attention to him, it opened up a barrage of threes from Duncan. The 6-8 Aussie drilled five more howitzers in the second half to finish with seven.
Boise State quickly extended the lead to 45-30, taking the patient Falcons out of their game plan. Five different Broncos accounted for those 13 points during that run. Each time Air Force thought they had a run going, #13 discounted those thoughts with another three.
Duncan exploded for 23 points, while Marks rebounded for 13 second-half points. Igor Hadziomerovic had 11 points, and Rob Heyer used perfect shooting (2-2 three-pointers, 3-3 from the field, and 3-3 from the free throw line) to also contribute 11. Marks dished out five assists to tie L'Shard Anderson for fifth on the Boise State career assists list, and a steal allowed him to move into third place by himself with 186 career picks. The senior from Chicago, Illinois also scored five field goals to pass Steve Connor for sixth place for field goals in a season.
Duncan's amazing afternoon vaulted him from 12-8 in the single-season three-point list. He is 19 three-pointers away from Abe Jackson's school record of 92.
Marek Olesinski led four Falcons in double figures with 14 points, while Zach Kocur had 13 points and six rebounds, Hayden Graham chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds, and Trevor Lyons had 10 points.
Boise State will play the winner of today's Utah State-Wyoming game tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.
Career Assists:
1. 502 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
2. 463 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
3. 408 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
4. 392 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
5. 367 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
5. 367 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
7. 347 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
7. 343 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
8. 298 Bryan Defares 2000-2004)
10. 275 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
11. 249 C.J. Williams (1998-2003)
11. 249 Booker Nabors (2000-2004)
13. 246 Eric Lane (2003-2007)
14. 243 Terry Miller (1974-1976)
15. 241 Frank Jackson (1983-1985)
Career Steals:
1. 215 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2. 196 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
3. 186 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
4. 185 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
5. 179 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
5. 179 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
7. 151 Bruce Bolden (1981-1985)
8. 145 Mike Tolman (1992-1993/1995-1998)
9. 138 Roberto Bergersen (1996-1999)
10. 132 Rawn Hayes (1981-1984)
11. 129 Damon Archibald (1992-1995)
12. 125 Kejuan Woods (1998-2001)
13. 107 Lance Vaughn (1989-1993)
Games Started:
1. 118 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2. 111 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
2. 111 Jason Ellis (2003-2007)
4. 108 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
4. 108 Trent Johnson (1974-1978)
5. 107 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
6. 106 Tanoka Beard (1989-1993)
8. 105 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
9. 104 Ryan Watkins (2010-2014)
10. 101 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
Field Goals, Season:
1. 244 Reggie Larry (2007-2008)
2. 231 John Coker (1993-1994)
3. 224 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
4. 221 Ron Austin (1970-1971)
5. 217 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
6. 215 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
7. 211 Steve Connor (1977-1978)
8. 202 Matt Nelson (2007-2008)
9. 199 Tanoka Beard (1992-1993)
10. 197 Jermaine Blackburn (2004-2005)
11. 192 Bill Otey (1968-1969)
12. 188 Eric Bailey (1980-1981)
13. 187 Arnell Jones (1987-1988)
13. 187 Steve Connor (1975-1976)
Three-Point Field Goals, Season:
1. 92 Abe Jackson (2001-2002)
2. 84 Tyler Tiedeman (2007-2008)
2. 84 Jeff Elorriaga (2012-2013)
4. 83 Abe Jackson (2000-2001)
5. 80 Coby Karl (2006-2007)
5. 80 Anthony Drmic (2012-2013)
7. 77 Mike Tolman (1997-1998)
8. 73 Nick Duncan (2014-2015)
9. 72 Abe Jackson (1999-2000)
10. 71 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
11. 70 Coby Karl (2005-2006)
11. 70 Jeff Elorriage (2013-2014)
13. 64 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
14. 63 Gerry Washington (1998-1999)
15. 60 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
15. 60 Joe Wyatt (1996-1997)
With Derrick Marks in foul trouble in the first half that limited him to only six minutes, Boise State turned to their long-range game, namely the three-point shot. Four Broncos nailed a collective five treys (2 from Nick Duncan and one each from James Webb III, Mikey Thompson and Rob Heyer) as Boise State took a 32-28 lead into the locker room.
Marks took charge in the paint in the second half, and, as the Falcons turned all their attention to him, it opened up a barrage of threes from Duncan. The 6-8 Aussie drilled five more howitzers in the second half to finish with seven.
Boise State quickly extended the lead to 45-30, taking the patient Falcons out of their game plan. Five different Broncos accounted for those 13 points during that run. Each time Air Force thought they had a run going, #13 discounted those thoughts with another three.
Duncan exploded for 23 points, while Marks rebounded for 13 second-half points. Igor Hadziomerovic had 11 points, and Rob Heyer used perfect shooting (2-2 three-pointers, 3-3 from the field, and 3-3 from the free throw line) to also contribute 11. Marks dished out five assists to tie L'Shard Anderson for fifth on the Boise State career assists list, and a steal allowed him to move into third place by himself with 186 career picks. The senior from Chicago, Illinois also scored five field goals to pass Steve Connor for sixth place for field goals in a season.
Duncan's amazing afternoon vaulted him from 12-8 in the single-season three-point list. He is 19 three-pointers away from Abe Jackson's school record of 92.
Marek Olesinski led four Falcons in double figures with 14 points, while Zach Kocur had 13 points and six rebounds, Hayden Graham chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds, and Trevor Lyons had 10 points.
Boise State will play the winner of today's Utah State-Wyoming game tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.
Career Assists:
1. 502 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
2. 463 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
3. 408 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
4. 392 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
5. 367 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
5. 367 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
7. 347 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
7. 343 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
8. 298 Bryan Defares 2000-2004)
10. 275 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
11. 249 C.J. Williams (1998-2003)
11. 249 Booker Nabors (2000-2004)
13. 246 Eric Lane (2003-2007)
14. 243 Terry Miller (1974-1976)
15. 241 Frank Jackson (1983-1985)
Career Steals:
1. 215 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2. 196 L'Shard Anderson (2008-2011)
3. 186 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
4. 185 Doug Usitalo (1986-1988)
5. 179 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
5. 179 Anthony Thomas (2006-2010)
7. 151 Bruce Bolden (1981-1985)
8. 145 Mike Tolman (1992-1993/1995-1998)
9. 138 Roberto Bergersen (1996-1999)
10. 132 Rawn Hayes (1981-1984)
11. 129 Damon Archibald (1992-1995)
12. 125 Kejuan Woods (1998-2001)
13. 107 Lance Vaughn (1989-1993)
Games Started:
1. 118 Chris Childs (1985-1989)
2. 111 Coby Karl (2003-2007)
2. 111 Jason Ellis (2003-2007)
4. 108 Steve Connor (1974-1978)
4. 108 Trent Johnson (1974-1978)
5. 107 Derrick Marks (2011-current)
6. 106 Tanoka Beard (1989-1993)
8. 105 Joe Skiffer (1999-2004)
9. 104 Ryan Watkins (2010-2014)
10. 101 Gerry Washington (1995-1999)
Field Goals, Season:
1. 244 Reggie Larry (2007-2008)
2. 231 John Coker (1993-1994)
3. 224 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
4. 221 Ron Austin (1970-1971)
5. 217 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
6. 215 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
7. 211 Steve Connor (1977-1978)
8. 202 Matt Nelson (2007-2008)
9. 199 Tanoka Beard (1992-1993)
10. 197 Jermaine Blackburn (2004-2005)
11. 192 Bill Otey (1968-1969)
12. 188 Eric Bailey (1980-1981)
13. 187 Arnell Jones (1987-1988)
13. 187 Steve Connor (1975-1976)
Three-Point Field Goals, Season:
1. 92 Abe Jackson (2001-2002)
2. 84 Tyler Tiedeman (2007-2008)
2. 84 Jeff Elorriaga (2012-2013)
4. 83 Abe Jackson (2000-2001)
5. 80 Coby Karl (2006-2007)
5. 80 Anthony Drmic (2012-2013)
7. 77 Mike Tolman (1997-1998)
8. 73 Nick Duncan (2014-2015)
9. 72 Abe Jackson (1999-2000)
10. 71 Roberto Bergersen (1998-1999)
11. 70 Coby Karl (2005-2006)
11. 70 Jeff Elorriage (2013-2014)
13. 64 Derrick Marks (2014-2015)
14. 63 Gerry Washington (1998-1999)
15. 60 Roberto Bergersen (1997-1998)
15. 60 Joe Wyatt (1996-1997)
