Game Recap: Boise State 85, SMU 84
Boise State advances thanks big night from big man Mladen Armus
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The Broncos advance past the Mustangs with last second put back by Doutrive.
A tough night shooting for Boise State’s opponents may have been what was needed to finish a scrappy second-half on top as the final buzzer rang on Thursday night.
𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚… 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/EdJsBwQqMv
— Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) March 19, 2021
The first-half of Thursday’s nights NIT first round matchup in Frisco, TX was, sloppy, to be polite. The first twenty minutes can be categorized by two lopsided runs to help close the first-half, after each squad emerged from their locker rooms for a very hard fought battle.
Marcus Shaver Jr. got the party started for Boise State with two consecutive three pointers in the first three-minutes. Those two drained buckets were followed up with two more, one from Derrick Alston Jr. and the other from Emmanuel Akot.
Next was a 2-point Lukas Milner layup, marking a 14-0 Bronco run to start the game and would grow to a 30-9 point lead in the coming minutes. After that SMU found their rhythm as they began an ensuing 20-5 Mustang run to help close the gap with around 3:53 left in the half. A series of exchanged buckets would send the game into half-time with a score of 49-42 and the Broncos on top.
The second-half told a different story as both squads fought to take the lead, as the game would see four ties and several lead exchanges in the final 10 minutes. Though SMU fought from behind all the way until the 4:54 mark, when a pair of Kendric Davis free-throws gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game.
Before that their first tie came at the 10:50 mark in the second-half, as everything was leveled 65-65. Southern Methodist would even things up once again minutes later at 74-a-piece after a 3-pointer from William Douglas. A couple more at 77-a-piece and then the last as an Armus layup left the score at 79-79 with 4:41 left to go.
The Mustangs would take the 84-83 lead with .40 seconds to go after a Yor Anei layup put SMU up with under a minute to go.
Before coach Jankovich’s squad could relax though they had more defense to play. After a timeout and with possession, the ball found it’s way to Akot, who would finish the night with 17-points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. He took a three-pointer with .20 seconds left on the shot, it bounced off the rim but found it’s way to an Armus tip, which Devonaire Doutrive recovered and scored the game winning shot.
“It’s a dream,” Doutrive said. “Everybody as a kid wants to hit the game winner and it’s a big moment for our team and we got the job done.”
He's that man! @Devonaire23 pic.twitter.com/OseviV4h8b
— Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) March 19, 2021
Doutrive would miss the and one opportunity but a defensive stop on the other end by Mladen Armus would help seal the deal and put Shaver Jr. on the line to close it all out.
“I’m just so proud of our guys and the way they battled,” coach Leon Rice said. “I was so proud of the way they shared the ball and they moved it. We looked like a really good basketball team, especially to start the game.
Boise State left a little short handed on Thursday played only eight players total. But all did their jobs and all five Bronco starters reached double-digits.
Led by Serbian big man Mladen Armus with 18-points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Logging his seventh double-double of the season and shooting 6-8 from the field while doing it. Maybe more importantly Armus had a hand in the winning sequence that ended with Devonaire Doutrive’s game winning put back shot with.
The Mustangs were led by another monster performance from guard Kendric Davis. Who scored 23-points to go along with 12 assists and 7 rebounds. Supported on the scoreboard by Tyson Jolly in his first start of the season with 17-points and Emmanuel Bandoumel with 16 of his own.
Aside from the game winner, Doutrive finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in his second start of the season. Rounding out the starting five was Derrick Alston Jr. and Marcus Shaver Jr. who each contributed 13-points to the first round win.
Next Up:
The Broncos now get a week long rest and wait for the winner to be declared from Saturday’s quarterfinal showdown between No. 1 Memphis and No. 4 Dayton. That matchup is set for a noon ET tip-off on ESPN and will be played in nearby Denton.
This quarterfinals appearance is the Broncos first in in program history.
Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.
