BOISE, Id. ? Playing the best shooting team in college basketball meant that CSUB needed to continue the solid shooting performance it gave in Saturday's win over Long Beach State. The Roadrunners didn't, and Boise State took full advantage in an 81?56 victory Wednesday night at Taco Bell Arena in Boise.
CSUB (8?18 overall) shot just 28 percent in the first half and 30 percent (12-of-38) for the game. Boise, which entered the game leading the nation by shooting better than 51 percent, increased that mark by nailing 34-of-65 (52.3 percent) again the 'Runners. Combined with a 57?29 rebounding advantage that led to 22 second?chance points, Boise was able to pull away midway through the first half and keep Bakersfield at arm's length for the duration.
Bakersfield took excellent care of the ball, committing a season?low seven turnovers, just one off the school?record low of six. But the 'Runners went more than six minutes without a field goal in the first half. That slump ? part of an overall 1-for-13 dry spell ? allowed Boise to turn a narrow 16?13 advantage into a 34?17 lead that wouldn't be challenged.
The deficit allowed CSUB Head Coach Keith Brown to give his bench extended playing time, and the reserves responded well. Ten of the 11 'Runners scored in the game while five players shared team?high honors with four rebounds apiece. Senior forward Demarcus Hall was one of those five who also came off the bench to lead CSUB with 12 points.
Reggie Larry and Matt Nelson each scored more than 20 points as part of double?double performances for the Western Athletic Conference leading Broncos, who improved to 20?6 overall with the win. Larry finished with a game?high 23 points and 10 rebounds while Nelson added a game?high 13 rebounds to his 21?point effort.
CSUB returns home to host fellow NCAA Division I Independent member UT?Pan American Friday night at Rabobank Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Boise State 81, CSU Bakersfield 56
CSU BAKERSFIELD (8-18) -- Hall 5-13 2-3 12; Blakley 4-12 1-1 10; R. Brown 3-4 1-1 8; Johns 3-10 2-6 8; Johnson 2-9 0-0 6; Grasmick 1-6 0-0 3; Bragg 1-8 1-1 3; Lee 1-2 0-1 2; Robinson 1-2 0-0 2; C. Brown 0-3 2-2 2; Rose 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-70 9-15 56.
BOISE STATE (20-6) -- Larry 11-14 0-0 23; Nelson 8-10 5-7 21; Tiedeman 3-8 0-0 8; Sanchez 4-4 0-0 8; Thomas 3-9 0-0 7; Noonan 2-5 0-0 6; Bauscher 2-5 0-0 5; Greene 1-5 1-4 3; Larsen 0-0 0-0 0; Garner 0-2 0-0 0; Rouse 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-65 6-11 81.
Halftime: BSU 42-22. 3-point goals--CSUB 5-26 (Johnson 2-5; Blakley 1-2; R. Brown 1-2; Grasmick 1-6; Rose 0-1; Bragg 0-5; Johns 0-3; Hall 0-2), BSU 7-24 (Noonan 2-5; Tiedeman 2-6; Larry 1-1; Thomas 1-4; Bauscher 1-3; Garner 0-2; Greene 0-3). Fouled out--CSUB-None, BSU-None. Rebounds--CSUB 29 (Johnson 4; Johns 4; C. Brown 4; Blakley 4; Hall 4; Bragg 4), BSU 57 (Nelson 13). Assists--CSUB 12 (Grasmick 6), BSU 22 (Thomas 8). Total fouls--CSUB 12, BSU 14. Technical fouls--CSUB-None, BSU-None. A-3220.
