MBB: Boise State University (15-4, 5-1) at University of New Mexico (17-2, 4-2)
Boise State University at University of New Mexico
Date: Saturday January 21, 2023
Time:9:00pm MT
Stadium: The Pit (15,411 )
TV: FS1
Radio: KBOI 670 AM
Commentators: Bob Behler and Abe Jackson
Know Thy Enemy
As Boise State’s team bus pulls up to “The Pit” they will be “greeted” by Lobo’s superfan and Coach Rice’s good buddy, Snake. Mark Tichenor or “Snake” has been heckling opposing teams in his courtside seat for decades and has become acquainted with Coach Rice over his tenure with the Broncos. Leon even said a few years ago that, “We’ve been good buddies.” So much so that Snake has Leon’s phone number and that Snake is invited to the Broncos shootaround when Boise State is in town. Rice even landed Tichenor a job at an Albuquerque restaurant that was run by Boise State alumni. But don’t let this friendship lead you to believe that either Snake or the Broncos are taking this game lightly on Saturday. Both teams come in with post season aspirations and the road to the NCAA tournament will likely go through each other!
New Mexico is having a fantastic bounce back season after finishing last year with a 13-19 record and a first round exit in the conference tournament. This year things are clicking in coach Richard Petino’s second season and he has the Lobos howling with their 17-2, 4-2 record. After stumbling out of the gate in conference play losing two of their first three to Fresno State and UNLV, the Lobos have rebounded by winning their next three, including a takedown of #23 San Diego State at Vejas on the 14th.
UNM is headlined by a star-studded lineup of the sons of former NBA stars. Both Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jaelen House’s dad’s had long careers in the Association. The old saying, “Like father, like son” rings true for these two as this backcourt duo is running roughshod through opponents this year. The pair is averaging over 40 points combined in their six conference games. In fact, both Mashburn and House are 1 and 2 in the conference respectively in scoring. Rounding out their starting five are Wichita State transfer Morris Udeze, University of Missiouri-Kansas City transfer Josiah Allaick and long time Lobo Javonte Johnson. All five have started each of the six conference games and outside of Johnson, the other four starters are averaging over 30 minutes a game. The Lobos will usually rotate two in off their bench in KJ Jenkins and Donovan Dent. Both Dent and Jenkins are logging over 15 minutes a game and Jenkins’ 9.2 points per game in league play is fourth on the team.
As a team New Mexico is second in the Mountain West in scoring and margin of victory in conference play. Only Boise State is better in those same categories. New Mexico has also been really good on the boards in their six league games, averaging over 36 rebounds per game. They also are averaging a league-best 9.8 offensive rebounds per game. Offensive boards just mean more possessions for your team right now they are averaging close to 7 more possessions than their opponents on any given night.
New Mexico is coached by Richard Pitino, son of storied college basketball coach Rick Pitino. Richard Pitino is in his second season on the sidelines for the Lobos and is 29-21 through a season and a half. Before landing in Albuquerque, Pitino had stops at FIU for a season and then was the head coach at Minnesota from 2013-2021. He’s led his teams to the NCAA tournament two times, but has never finished higher than 4th in the conference standings in his career.
The Lobos and the Broncos will meet for the 22rd time in school history when they tip-off Saturday night. Boise State trails New Mexico 9-12 in the series between the schools. Boise State has won the last four meetings, but when going to The Pit the Broncos have only come out victorious three times in 11 tries.
What Happened Last Season
Oddly enough New Mexico was one of two teams that the Broncos only played once last season. In their only matchup with the Lobos the Broncos dominated the glass, out rebounding the Lobos 52-28, including 25 offensive rebounds in the 71-63 victory at The Pit.
Marcus Shaver, Jr. led four Broncos in double figures with 18 points, Naje Smith added 14, Abu Kigab scored 11 and Emmanuel Akot chipped in 10.
Boise State held a 10-point lead at halftime, thanks in large part to a 26-9 rebounding advantage in the first 20 minutes and 12 offensive boards.
The start of the second period saw much of the same. Five of Boise State's first seven field goals of the half were second-chance baskets, including a three-pointer by Smith to stop a brief New Mexico run that had trimmed the margin to eight. Seconds later, Akot turned a loose ball into a breakaway dunk and Boise State was back in front by 13, 42-29, with 13:15 left.
Boise State pushed the lead to as many as 16 and kept the margin in double figures until the closing minutes, when the Broncos made enough free throws to earn the victory
Player to Watch
NEW MEXICO
SR., JAELEN HOUSE, G #10
It would be silly not to mention the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week more in depth. House is in his second season with the Lobos after transferring into the program from Arizona State. Last year in his first season with UNM House became the 7th player in program history to have 500 points and 125 assists in a single season. He’s on pace to do it again his year as he already has 332 points and 87 assists with over 10 games left to play. He’s averaging 17.4 points a game so far this season. Last year against the Broncos, House led both teams with 21 points in 32 minutes. The offense runs through #10 so he will be hard to miss on Friday night.
BOISE STATE
Rs.SR., MARCUS SHAVER JR., G #10
It will be the battle of the “10’s” on Friday night as Marcus Shaver and Jaelen House go at it from the point guard spot. The Broncos will need Shaver to have one of his special nights if they want to overcome the Lobos and the crowd. Last time out against Nevada Shaver only scored 5 points and had 5 assists, but he’s more than capable of carrying the team and his veteran presence will be needed in the midst of the hostel crowd at The Pit.
PROBABLE STARTERS
BOISE STATE
NEW MEXICO
Rev's Route to a Bronco Win
Don’t Tiptoe into a Street Fight
Leon Rice is full of wonderful one-liners and he told his team prior to Tuesday night's game that, “You don’t tiptoe into a street fight.” Friday night will be a street fight and the Broncos won’t have the added boost of the home crowd behind them like they did against the Wolfpack. If the Broncos want to win, they will have to come out swinging and take the crowd out of the equation from the jump.
Finish Strong
The final five minutes of a half are crucial in college basketball. This is the time where winners will rise to the top and take control of the situation. In spite of the Lobo’s stellar record, it does seem that in every league game outside of Colorado State, the Lobos have had decent leads and let them slip away only to come charging back in the final minutes. If the Broncos want to win they will have to weather the storm that the Lobos will inevitably come charging back with if the Broncos are lucky enough to build a late lead.
Editor Note:
Common Opponents
If looking at common opponents is any indication what will happen in this matchup, the Broncos have more than a puncher’s chance to come out with the victory. Both teams have played Wyoming, UNLV and San Jose State. Boise State won all three of those games, New Mexico two. Boise State handled both Wyoming and UNLV to the tune of 17 and 18 points respectively. New Mexico only beat Wyoming by one and lost to UNLV by seven. The only outlier is the San Jose game. Boise State needed late game heroics by Marcus Shaver to come out on top, but the Lobos absolutely dismantled the Spartans by 20 in their last game.
Leon Rice said this week, “We preacher humbly and compete arrogantly.” That's exactly the attitude they need coming into this one. They need to come out knowing that they are the superior team. The fact that four of five starters for the Broncos went to The Pit last year and won has to account for something. I think the Broncos stay hot and let their defense lead them in this statement win.
Boise State 75, New Mexico 63
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