Bronco Basketball Update

As we told you earlier today, the commitment of Zach Haney meant that someone was leaving, and we now have word from Twitter that Edmunds Dukulis and Joey Nebeker will not be returning next year.
 

Broncos Sweep Utah State

There's good news out of Dona Larsen Park.  The Broncos rallied to beat Utah State 11-9 in the game resumed from yesterday's rainout.  Then, Boise State whipped the Aggie women 10-1 to sweep the mid-week three-game series, something the Lady Broncos had to do to have a good shot at the Mountain West title.

Boise State shattered the Mountain West record for stolen bases.  Jordan Kreiger's swipe of second base in the sixth inning of the nightcap gave Boise State 88, and the opportunistic Broncos recorded five more after that to give them 93 for the season.

Boise State has now won nine of their last eleven.  The Lady Broncos moved into fourth place, one-half game ahead of 10-7 UNLV, and in a statistical tie with the three co-leaders (Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State, all with 9-5 records).

Although Boise State is now up with the conference leaders, they have a long ways to go to win the championship, because there are so many teams bunched up.  The Broncos have six games remaining, and probably need at least five wins to finish in first, and probably need at least two of three in their season-ending series at San Diego State. 

After a game at Idaho State, Boise State returns home for a three-game series next weekend with New Mexico.

Here are the current league standings:

1.  Colorado State 9-5
1.  Fresno State 9-5
1.  San Diego State 9-5
4.  Boise State 11-7
5.  UNLV 10-7
6.  San Jose State 8-6

Boise State Reduces Size Disadvantage

Boise State head basketball coach Leon Rice recognized right away that to compete with the elite of the Mountain West Conference, he would need height on his roster.  This year, with the addition of David Wacker, Kevin Allen and now is newest recruit, Zach Haney, Rice has addressed that need.

Haney, 6-11, 222 pounds from Atascocita High School in Texas, has verbally committed to Boise State.  That gives Boise State 14 players on scholarship, one over the limit, meaning that someone is leaving or has already left the program.

Haney chose Boise State over offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Oregon State, Nevada, and Stephen F. Austin and interest from Colorado State and Virginia Tech.

Boise State Signs Kevin Allen

We told you back on April 2 that Kevin Allen had committed to Boise State--now it's official.  The big man has signed a letter of intent with the Broncos, giving the basketball program a solid force in the middle that they have lacked for years. 

Allen, 6-10, averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds a game at Pratt Community College in Kansas this season.  He joins the Broncos as a junior with a redshirt year available should he and Coach Leon Rice choose to go that way.

“We are really excited to get Kevin,” said head coach Leon Rice. “He fills a need for us with size we’ve been lacking and the departure of Ryan Watkins.  Kevin has tremendous upside and with his work ethic and our system we’re really looking forward to his development as a Bronco.”

Allen helped Pratt go 22-13 this year, with a Region VI championship and a berth in the NJCAA Tournament.  In the team's opening round loss, Allen hit 31 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

What is really key for Boise State and should have Bronco fans excited is his 1.8 blocks per game, 39th in the country. 

The 2014 recruiting class has reached three with both David Wacker and Chandler Hutchison signing in November.  And it is an amazing one.

Bronco Track Team Comes Home From Oregon Relays With Medals

The Oregon Relays are famous for their competition, and the site (Eugene, Oregon) is the home of this year's NCAA National Championships.  But Boise State wasn't intimidated in the least.

Jasmyn Jewett won the triple jump with a leap of 40-feet, 6.75-inches, while the 4 x 100-meter relay team of Shannon Jacobs, Chelsey Washington, Brandi Williams and Kimberly Miller beat the field with a time of 48.21.  Meanwhile, the men's 400-meter relay team composed entirely of freshmen finished fourth with a time of 42.70.

Jacobs also claimed a fifth place finish in the 100-meters with a career best 11.98, while Justin Maines was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.66).  Miller was fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 38-3.25, while Dominique Drayden was second in the men's triple with a leap of 47-5.  Jordan Ward topped 5-feet, 5-inches to place third in the high jump.

The Broncos will compete in the annual BYU Robison Invitational next week in Provo.

Broncos Notch 25th Win of Season

In the 2013-14 school year, it will be remembered that the Boise State tennis team was one of the school's most successful.  The Broncos are now 25-4, having beaten San Francisco 4-1 to wrap up a double win on the Appleton courts--Boise State earlier blanked Air Force 7-0 to finish the conference season 5-0.

Next up:  the Mountain West tournament, next Thursday through Sunday in Fresno, California.

Current Mountain West Softball Standings

schools	Conference W-L-T	Points	Conference PCT	Overall W-L-T	Overall PCT
1.	Fresno State	8-4-0		.667	24-16-0	.600
2.	Colorado State	8-4-0		.667	27-10-0	.730
3.	San Diego State	8-4-0		.667	31-12-0	.721
4.	UNLV	9-6-0		.600	19-24-0	.442
5.	San José State	7-5-0		.583	24-18-0	.571
6.	Boise State	8-7-0		.533	23-19-0	.548
7.	Utah State	5-7-0		.417	17-24-0	.415
8.	New Mexico	4-11-0		.267	13-29-0	.310
9.	Nevada	3-12-0		.200	21-22-0	.488

Kelsey Morris and Ciera Perkins Impress at NCAA Nationals

While the rest of their teammates were home in Boise, the duo of Kelsey Morris and Ciera Perkins were amazing at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

Perkins nailed a 9.90 on floor exercises to finish tied for eighth in the nation and earn Second Team All-America honors.  Perkins is the fourth Bronco to accomplish that feat, joining Johnna Evans and Diana Loosli (1998) and Amy Glass (2012).

Morris scored a 9.850 on uneven bars, tied for the highest in school history (with Lindsay Ward) at the National Championships.  Morris finished the competition tied for 10th place.

Way to go, Kelsey and Ciera!

Boise State Softball Team Beats San Jose State 7-6

The Lady Broncos probably needed a sweep to have a good chance at winning the conference, but they at least scored a series win with a hard-fought 7-6 win over San Jose State this afternoon at Dona Larsen Park.

Boise State now travels to Utah State for three--a doubleheader Tuesday followed by a game Wednesday.

Bronco Netters Ground Air Force 7-0

Patton's team has done it again.  On Senior Day, the Broncos blanked Air Force 7-0 at Appleton Tennis Center.

Boise State is now 24-4 on the season, with their 12th consecutive home victory.  The Broncos finished the Mountain West Conference regular season 5-0.

Boise State hosts San Francisco in a non-conference matchup for the regular season finale tonight at 6.

Marisa Howard Top Collegiate Finisher in Mt. SAC Steeplechase

Boise State's Marisa Howard finished seventh in the steeplechase elite invitational with a time of 10:07.17 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California last night.

Howard was the top collegiate student-athlete in the race that was filled with mostly professional runners.  Her time was just shy of Marisa's school record of 10:01.12.

Allison Jeffries finished first in the pole vault (12-9.50) to highlight Boise State's success at the Oregon Relays in Eugene.  Hayli Bozarth and Karyna Armstrong were 2-3 in the women's hammer with throws of 193-5 and 182-5, respectively, while Matt Post was third in the men's hammer with a throw of 195-2.  Bozarth also finished third in the shot put with a heave of 47-8.

Fernando Martinez was second in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 53.25.  Kimberly Miller also had a good day, finishing third in the long jump (18-6), and Dominique Drayden was third in the men's long jump with a mark of 22-9.25.

Emma Bates Finishes Fifth in 5,000

Emma Bates set a Mountain West Conference record and broke her own school record  in the 5,000 meters by 25 seconds in finishing fifth at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California last night.  Bates finished in 15:33.42, topping the mark set by New Mexico's Sarah Waldron in 2012 (15:37.49).  The elite invitational race consisted mostly of professional runners, which Bates likely will be herself when she hangs up her cleats next year.  

 

Bates just can't seem to get past Dartmouth's Abbey

D'Agostino, though tonight, she was less that three seconds behind. 

 

 

Event 215  Women 5000 Meter Run Invit. Elite
===============================================================
World Record: W 14:11.15  2008        Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopia
American Rec: @ 14:44.76  2010        Molly Huddle, Saucony    
 Meet Record: $ 14:44.80  2007        Shalane Flanagan, Nike   
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
===============================================================
Finals                                                         
  1 Meraf Bahta                  Hälle IF              15:30.37
  2 Brenda Eunice Flores Mun     Mexico-FMAA           15:30.87
  3 Abbey D'Agostino             Dartmouth             15:30.93
  4 Jessica O'Connell            UCAC                  15:33.29
  5 Emma Bates                   Boise State           15:33.42
  6 Jordan Hasay                 Nike Oregon Project   15:34.35
  7 Erin Finn                    Michigan              15:41.35
  8 Brenda Martinez              New Balance           15:41.50
  9 Elinor Kirk                  UAB                   15:42.13
 10 Dominique Scott              Arkansas              15:42.42
 11 Mara Olson                   Butler                15:47.14
 12 Crystal Nelson               Iowa State            15:49.90
 13 Sarah Crouch                 Zap Fitness           15:51.86
 14 Dana Giordano                Dartmouth             15:53.96
 15 Shalaya Kipp                 Colorado              15:54.13
 16 Addie Bracy                  Brooks                15:57.92
 17 Alia Gray                    Brooks / HTS Elite    16:01.29
 18 Kara Lubieniecki             Saucony/HTS Elite     16:03.95
 19 Meghan Peyton                Saucony/Team          16:03.99
 20 Megan Goethals               Washington            16:04.86
 21 Grace Heymsfield             Arkansas              16:05.96
 22 Beth Potter                  Unattached            16:09.98
 23 Kelsey Smith                 U C Los Angeles       16:12.47
 24 Gladys Lucy Tejeda Pucuh     Club Rodolfo Gomez    16:12.85
 25 Alycia Cridebring            UC Davis              16:15.08
 26 Lindsay Flanagan             Washington            16:21.98
 27 Natasha LaBeaud              Brooks                16:22.54
 28 Ellie Keyser                 Boulder Track Club    16:24.77
 29 Ángela Maria Figueroa Pa     Colombia              16:32.25
 -- Betzy Jimenez                Brooks ID                  DNF
 -- Valerie Lehmann              Swiss Athletics            DNF

San Jose State Tops Lady Broncos 11-5

At a time in which the Boise State softball team needs wins to get somewhat close to the top of the Mountain West Conference standings, it was San Jose State with the victory tonight on the Lady Broncos' home field.

Bozarth and Armstrong Go 1-2 in Hammer at Oregon Relays

Football players aren't the only Broncos to carry the hammer well.  Hayli Bozarth finished second tonight at the Oregon Relays, uncorking a throw of 193-feet, 3 inches, while teammate Karyna Armstrong was third with a throw of 182-05.
 

Townsend Unable to Finish Decathlon

Roderick Townsend, who led after the opening day of the decathlon at the California Invitational, competed in the first three events yesterday, but was unable to finish.

Howard Eighth, Elliott 11th in Mt. SAC 10,000 Elite

Jeff Howard and David Elliott took on some of the nation's finest runners in the invitation-only Elite 10,000-meter run at the Mt. SAC relays in Walnut, California.  Howard finished eighth with a time of 29:28.78, just 26 seconds behind the winner, Joseph Gray, while Elliott was 11th in 29:33.51.  Howard's and Elliott's times are the third and fourth best, respectively, in Boise State history.

Finals                                                         
  1 Joseph Gray                  SCOTT Sports/ADP      29:03.84
  2 Matthew Gillespie            Iona                  29:08.71
  3 John Mascari                 Indiana State         29:10.32
  4 Sean Davidson                Cal Poly              29:11.20
  5 Jannis Topfer                Illinois              29:13.07
  6 Kieran Clements              Iona                  29:17.22
  7 Andrew Larsen                Minnesota             29:28.30
  8 Jeff Howard                  Boise State           29:28.78
  9 Ernest Kibet                 Louisville            29:29.05
 10 Tyler Byrne                  Louisville            29:30.62
 11 David Elliott                Boise State           29:33.51
 12 Scott Dahlberg               BoulderRC/adidas      29:36.46
 13 Isaiah Bragg                 Air Force             29:37.25
 14 Thomas Gruenewald            BYU                   29:37.56
 15 Kevin Joerger                Loyola Marymount      29:40.85
 16 Chris Borg                   Unattached            29:40.89
 17 Andrew Kimpel                Washington St.        29:41.06
 18 Drew Jordan                  Washington St.        29:49.39
 19 Pablo Ramirez                Eastern Illinois      29:52.95
 20 Tim Freriks                  Northern Arizona      29:58.66
 21 Edwin Kibichiy               Louisville            29:59.12
 22 Mark Beams                   Michigan              29:59.65
 23 Tuomas Jokinen               Team Finland          30:17.79
 24 Evan Landes                  Kansas                30:18.93
 25 Robert Walgren               Gonzaga               30:26.90
 26 Reesey Byers                 Sac State Redshirt    30:35.60
 27 Phil Schneider               Colorado Mines        30:39.30
 -- Dayne Gradone                Chico State                DNF

Lady Broncos Hold Off San Jose 7-6

Boise State got a big lead early, then held on to defeat San Jose State 7-6 tonight in Boise.  The Broncos, 7-6 in Mountain West play, are now 1 1/2 games behind first-place Fresno State.  Boise State and San Jose will do battle again tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Schedules Tab Updated

With the announcement of the Boise State television schedule for football, that schedule as well as the other sports has been updated.  View all Boise State schedules by clicking on the Schedules Tab at the top of the website.

Roderick Townsend Leads "B" Decathlon at California Invitational

Boise State's Roderick Townsend paces the field after the first day of the decathlon at the California Invitational in Azusa.  Townsend won the high jump and shot put on the opening day of competition, and tallied 3,753 points.


 

Boise State Sings Lewis Roskilly to Letter of Intent

Lewis Roskilly (from Stevenage, England), the #4 junior player in the U.K., has signed a letter of intent to play tennis for Boise State.  Roskilly is currently ranked #133 in the world among 18 boys single players, and and won two English junior national championships.

“I chose Boise State as I’m family orientated and Boise is sure to become another big family of mine,” said Roskilly.

“We hit a home run today which will resonate for the next four to five years with the signing of Lewis Roskilly from the United Kingdom, said Coach  Greg Patton.  As there was the British invasion of Rock and Roll in the 1960’s, we have had our own 21st century Bronco Tennis version of that which started with the likes of Scott Sears, Andy Bettles and Toby Mitchell.  Now it will continue with the lineage of Lewis Roskilly who is not only a top British player but an elite junior player at the international level.  With Lewis as part of the Bronco family our future will continue to sparkle like a full moon night in the Idaho mountains.”

Welcome to Bronco Nation, Lewis!