UNLV Survives Boise State 77-72 in Overtime

Mike Moser had 18 points and 21 rebounds as #12 UNLV held off a determined Boise State team for a 77-72 win in overtime last night in Taco Bell Arena. 

Chase Stanback added 15 points and Oscar Bellfield had 13 for the Runnin' Rebels who couldn't shake the Broncos in the second half.  Coach Leon Rice's team battled back to tie the game and send it into overtime.  but UNLV took care of business in the extra period as good teams do.  Bellfield netted a three-pointer that put Vegas up 70-65 with 2:03 left and Moser sank two free throws in the final minute to seal the win, UNLV's 19th on the season against just three defeats.

Boise State, meanwhile, is still seeking its first Mountain West Conference win, despite the fact that they can play well enough to take UNLV to overtime.  They have the start of the game to thank, as UNLV ran out to a 12-0 lad while Boise State missed their first seven shots.  Derrick Marks scored a career-high 21 to lead the Broncos and Thomas Bropleh came off the bench to score 17 points and added 13 rebounds.

Boise State had a brief lead 33-31 but Moser hit three pointers, Kendall Wallace buried a trey and Bellfield's layup on a fast break put the Runnin' Rebels up 48-39 with 12:51 left.  Tre Nichols then scored nine points in the next five minutes as the Broncos went back on top 56-55.  Another three from Bellfield with 4:39 remaining gave UNLV the lead 63-59 and Brice Massamba was able to hit one of two free throws on the next possession to build a 64-59 lead.

Once again, the Broncos battled back.  Anthony Drmic hit a three pointer and Marks hit two free throws to tie the game at 64 with 59 seconds left.  Both teams had shots in the final minute but couldn't break the tie.

Despite the poor start, Boise State proved that playing good defense can keep you in a game, even if it is against the nation's 12th-best team.  A baseline drive that Marks finished with a punctuating dunk led his team back, and his jumper with 43 seconds left gave Boise State its first lead of the game 27-26.  Just Hawkins gave UNLV the lead at halftime 29-27 on a three-pointer with eight seconds left.

Boise State hosts Wyoming Saturday night.  It will be interesting to see if Boise State plays as well as they did last night.  If they do, they'll get a double digit win. 

Jacksons Invite Draws Top Talent

The prestige of hosting the NCAA National Indoor Track & Field Championships has its benefits.

Once again, some of the top talent in the country is coming to Idaho for a regular-season meet (They want to get a feel for the track they'll be competing on for Nationals.)  Georgia is the top draw at the Jacksons Invite this week; the Bulldog women are #13 in the nation while the UGA men are #23.  Other nationally-ranked teams include Utah, Utah State, Idaho State and Weber State, while 12 other collegiate teams will be in town.  Over 600 student-athletes are scheduled to compete.

Kurt Felix, Boise State's all-around athlete and great guy, is ranked #8 in the nation in the heptathlon and 22nd in the high jump, while Eetu Viitala is #13 in the long jump and Trevor Kraychir is 16th in the weight throw.  Mele Vaisima (#24 in the weight throw) and Alexi Morton (#25 in the pentathlon) are the only Bronco women in the Top 25.

The women's pentathlon will get things rolling Friday at 10:30.  The 60-meter dash starts the men's heptathlon Friday morning at 11.  Individual events kick off at 4 p.m. Friday.  There is a full schedule for Saturday, with events beginning at 9 a.m.  Tickets are just $5 per session with students and senior citizens admitted for $3.  An even better is the All Sports Pass, which I helped initiate at Boise State.  For only $50, the Pass entitles to a year's admission of all wrestling, softball, women's basketball, gymnastics, volleyball, soccer and outdoor track and field. 

Great Effort By Boise State Falls Short in Overtime

Boise State can't play any better than they did tonight.  They took #12 UNLV down to the wire and then some, before falling in overtime 77-72.

A five-point loss.  To a team that is now 19-3 on the season.  The problem with this of course is this:  If they can take UNLV to overtime, they shouldn't lose to anyone the rest of the season except UNLV and San Diego State.  Yep, the Broncos have let the cat out of the bag as to how good they are and how well they can play.

So we'll all be watching as you go on a long winning streak from here Broncos.  Anything else would be a letdown after tonight.

Boise State Hosts #12 UNLV Wednesday Night

Boise State will host #12 UNLV tomorrow night (Wednesday) in Taco Bell Arena and will be trying for their first Mountain West Conference victory.

The Broncos downed the Rebels 84-69 the last time the two teams met in Boise.  The occasion was the 2004 National Invitation Tournament.  UNLV defeated Boise State 75-72 last year in Las Vegas.

Boise State is 4-6 at home against Top 25 teams, including two in a row, defeating #20 BYU (73-70) in 2007 and #21 Utah State (66-56) in 2009.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday night.

Jimmy Lake is New Boise State Defensive Backs Coach

According to numerous sources, Jimmy Lake will be the new defensive backs coach at Boise State.  He has some big shoes to fill with the departure of popular Marcel Yates to Texas A&M.  Yates not only had a strong rapport with his players; he was also one of Boise State's best recruiters because of his connection to student-athletes.

Lake has been a coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL in a similar position. 

Prior to that, Lake was the cornerbacks coach at the University of Washington and he coached DB's at Eastern Washington for four seasons.  Lake is a 2000 graduate of Eastern Washington.

Tyler Shoemaker with 1 catch for 8 yards

We're in the second half of the East-West Shrine Game.  Boise State wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker, who broke the school record for touchdown receptions this year with Kellen Moore throwing to him, has one catch for eight yards.

If they're not careful, they're going to realize that Kellen Moore is a much better quarterback than they think he is.  The current West QB's aren't breaking any records.

Boise State Turns Back Oregon State 148-114

As promised, Blue Through and Through has the swimming results before anyone in the state of Idaho.  The Broncos downed Oregon State today 148-114.

Broncos Falling Apart in Fort Worth

Something happened on the way to their first Mountain West win.  The Broncos had a comfortable 31-21 lead at the half but now with 1:38 left, they trail 54-50 to TCU.  Boise State is shooting just 37% from the field and just 65% from the free-throw line.

Broncos Lead TCU 31-21

Halftime score.

Broncos Playing Well at the Moment

Boise State has shot to a 28-19 lead with four minutes left against TCU.

Boise State Tied With TCU

In the early going, the Bronco basketball team is battling TCU to a tie.  It's 8-8 with 11:24 left in the first half down at Taco Bell Arena.

Morill Tops Stanford Runners to Win 800 Meters

Finals                                                                
  1 Rici Morill                  Boise State            2:15.39       
  2 Sarah McCurdy                Stanford               2:16.24       
  3 Laura Vogel                  Stanford               2:17.24       
  4 Aleina Eisenhauer-Winger     Utah Valley            2:17.99       
  5 Lora Marchini                Sacramento St.         2:18.47       
  6 Terresa Mallory              Sacramento St.         2:20.95       
  7 Marie Brashears              UC Irvine              2:23.37       
  8 Sydni Samuels                Utah Valley            2:25.01       

Lady Broncos Host TCU Tonight

Coach Gordy Presnell's team has fared well in the beginning of the Mountain West Conference season.  Tonight, the Lady Broncos host TCU in a key battle.  Tipoff is at 7 in Taco Bell Arena.

Boise State Swimming Team Hosts Oregon State Today

The talented Boise State swimming and diving team hosts Oregon State today at the Boise West YMCA.  It is underway and Blue Through and Through will be first in Idaho to provide you with results.

Bronco Basketball Team Takes on TCU

Boise State's basketball team, reeling from a pair of losses to open the Mountain West season, have to rally around each other this afternoon.  They are in Forth Worth, Texas for a meeting with TCU.  Tipoff is at 1:30.

Bronco Gymnasts Score Resounding Victory

The Boise State gymnastics team turned in another solid performance in defeating Sacramento State 196.175 to 191.875 in the 10th annual Beauty and the Beast competition in Taco Bell Arena.  And they even brought along the Bronco wrestlers for a win.  The young Bronco wrestling team, which has yet to step into the shoes of graduating seniors who established Boise State as a then-national power, defeated North Dakota State 21-16.
Junior Brittany Potvin-Green had two career bests to lead the Lady Broncos to the impressive victory.  Potvin-Green won he vault with a score of 9.875, placed second on the beam with a 9.80, placed third on the floor with a career-best 9.850 and finished third on the uneven bars with a mark of 9.825.  Potvin-Green thus delighted the crowd of 2,845 and captured her first career all-around title with a sparkling 39.350.

Erica Oswalt finished second in the vault with a career-best 9.850.  Senior Lindsay Kazandjian and freshman Kelsey Morris tied for the top uneven bars score, each notching career-bests of 9.850.  The Broncos' biggest chance for improvement is on the beam, where Potvin-Green and Kazandjian tied for second with 9.80 scores.  The Broncos, as a team, however, scored only 48.775 points.

Amanda Otuafi registered a career-best of her own of 9.90 to win the floor competition. 

Sacramento State earned team scores of 48.625 on vault, 48.150 on bars, 46.625 on beam and 48.475 on floor.

The Broncos travel to Logan next Friday for a tough match against Utah State and Southern Utah.



Team Results
1) Boise State 196.175
2) SAC 191.875


VAULT Results
1)  Brittany Potvin-Green (Boise State) 9.875
2)  Erica Oswalt (Boise State) 9.850
3)  Amanda Otuafi (Boise State) 9.825, Hailey Gaspar (Boise State) 9.825
5) Kalliah McCartney (SAC) 9.800
6) Ciera Perkins (Boise State) 9.775

BARS Results
1)  Lindsay Kazandjian (Boise State) 9.850, Kelsey Morris (Boise State) 9.850
3)  Kelsey Black (Boise State) 9.825, Ciera Perkins (Boise State) 9.825, Brittany Potvin-Green (Boise State) 9.825
6) Nicole Meiller (SAC) 9.750

BEAM Results
1) Kalliah McCartney (SAC) 9.825
2)  Brittany Potvin-Green (Boise State) 9.800, Lindsay Kazandjian (Boise State) 9.800
4)  Bekah Gher (Boise State) 9.775
5)  Hailey Gaspar (Boise State) 9.700, Kelsey Morris (Boise State) 9.700

FLOOR Results
1) Amanda Otuafi (Boise State) 9.900
2) Kailey Hansen (SAC) 9.875
3)  Brittany Potvin-Green (Boise State) 9.850
4)  Ciera Perkins (Boise State) 9.825
5)  Caitlin Mann (Boise State) 9.775
6)  Hailey Gaspar (Boise State) 9.725

 All-Around Results
1)  Brittany Potvin-Green (Boise State) 39.350
2) Kalliah McCartney (SAC) 39.025

Boise State:  VAULT: 49.150, BARS: 49.175, BEAM: 48.775, FLOOR: 49.075

Broncos Prevail over Utah State 5-2

The Boise State women's tennis team opened its 2012 campaign with a 5-2 win over Utah State at the Boas Indoor Tennis Center in Bose.  Sonia Klamczynska, Marlena Pietzuch, Sandy Vo and Morgan Basil recorded singles wins to boost the Broncos to victory.

Basil and Vo got the afternoon started with an 8-1 win at #2 doubles.  Boise State clinched the doubles point when Klamczynska and Kaitlyn Brown downed Monica Abella and Brianna Rowland-Harris 8-2 at #3 doubles.  Utah State won the first singles match to be decided as Abella defeated Brown 6-0, 6-2.  Vo came in next, winning her match 6-1, 6-1.

USU drew even again when McKenzie Davis downed Manuela Pietzuch 6-4, 6-2.  But all three remaining Broncos won their matches to give their team a win.  Marlena Pietzuch took care of business at #2 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 win, Basil captured a 6-3, 6-3 victory and Klamczynska brought it home with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Jaci West at #1 singles.
The Lady Broncos host Denver Sunday morning at the Boas Center off of Boise Avenue.  The match begins at 9 a.m.


Final Match Summary

Utah State at Boise State Jan. 20, 2012
Boise, Idaho
At Boise State University (Boas Indoor Tennis Center)

BOISE STATE def. UTAH STATE 5-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2,3,1) 1. West/Davis (USU) def. Pietzuch/Pietzuch (Boise State), 8-7 (6)
2. Basil/Vo (Boise State) def. Voytsekhovich/Nedakovic (USU), 8-1
3. Klamczynska/Brown (Boise State) def. Abella/Brianna Rowland-Harris (USU), 8-2

Singles (Order of Finish: 6, 4, 3, 2, 5, 1)
1.  Sonia Klamczynska (Boise State) def. Jaci West (USU), 6-0, 6-1
2.  Marlena Pietzuch (Boise State) def. Kristina Voytsekhovich (USU), 6-3, 6-1
3.  McKenzie Davis (USU) def. Manuela Pietzuch (Boise State), 6-4, 6-2
4.  Sandy Vo (Boise State) def. Romina Nedakovic (USU), 6-1, 6-1
5.  Morgan Basil (Boise State) def. Julie Tukuafu (USU), 6-3, 6-3
6.  Monica Abella (USU) def. Kaitlyn Brown (Boise State), 6-0, 6-2

Boise State Takes 5 of Top 8 Positions in Men's Mile

Finals                                                                
  1 Cliff Nielson                Utah Valley            4:14.54       
  2 Drew O'Donoghue McDonald     Boise State            4:14.92       
  3 Allan Schroeder              Boise State            4:16.60       
  4 Chris Dorton                 Utah Valley            4:17.50       
  5 Sawyer Bosch                 Boise State            4:19.09       
  6 Vince Hamilton               Boise State            4:19.54       
  7 Aaron Back                   Boise State            4:20.09       
  8 Macy Butterfield             Utah Valley            4:21.82       

Mele Vaisima Wins Weight Throw

Finals                                                                
  1 Mele Vaisima                 Boise State             19.33m       
  2 Whitney Ashley               San Diego St.           18.77m       
  3 Alyssa Osai                  Unattached Bsu          18.37m       
  4 Jasmine Burrell              San Diego St.           18.27m       
  5 Ify Agwuenu                  Sacramento St.          17.22m       
  6 Ellie Fanaika                San Diego St.           17.16m       
  7 Erinn Jones                  Sacramento St.          16.06m       
  8 Sarah Yoldi                  Sacramento St.          15.85m       

Alexi Morton Wins High Jump at Bronco Invitational

Finals                                                                
  1 Alexi Morton                 Boise State              1.65m       
  1 Carrington Mahr              San Diego St.            1.65m       
  3 Moira Robinson               Sacramento St.           1.60m       
  4 Baiba Celma                  Sacramento St.           1.55m       
  4 Makira Kuan-Rackham          Utah Valley              1.55m       
  6 Courtney Schroeder           Northwest Nazarene      J1.55m       
  7 Zarria McKearney             Sacramento St.          J1.55m       
  8 Jasmyn Jewett                Northwest Nazarene      J1.55m