Utah State Looks To Tame Broncos In Boise
Feb 25, 2025, 3:12 PM | Updated: 3:13 pm
Utah State graduate senior guard Ian Martinez attempts a shot against the Boise State Broncos in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, January 11, 2025. (USU Athletics, Keffrey Stellway)
(USU Athletics, Keffrey Stellway)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah State Aggies have positioned themselves for an NCAA Tournament berth but can’t let down with just three games remaining in the regular season. USU makes the trip north to take on the Boise State Broncos in a mid-week Mountain West matchup.
The Broncos (19-8, 11-4) will host Utah State (24-4, 14-3) at ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, February 26. In mid-January, the Aggies needed a fortuitous bounce, leading to an Ian Martinez four-point play, to beat the Broncos 81-79 in Logan.
Brotherhood 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wrna30yHiV
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 25, 2025
The Aggies have been setting a high bar all season under first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun. USU’s 24-4 start is the fourth-best in program history, and their 24 wins are tied for the 11th most in an entire season.
Utah State’s 14-3 start in Mountain West play is the best start since joining the conference for the 2010-11 academic year.
RELATED: Utah State Skewers Spartans In Blowout
Boise State won two games last week, including doing Utah State a favor by beating the Lobos 86-78. The Broncos finished the week by edging out Nevada on the road, 70-69.
Tyson Degenhart earned MW Player of the Week after averaging 23 points, 4.5 boards, and making nearly 47 percent of his shots. His career-high 32 points were critical in the upset of New Mexico. The senior forward averages 18.2 points (2nd in MW), 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Boise State had a clean sweep in the men’s basketball weekly awards, with freshman forward Pearson Carmichael also having a career-high against the Lobos, scoring 21 points in his first collegiate start. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in the Broncos’ two wins.
Utah State Survives Aztecs in Logan
Dexter Akanno paced the Aggies with a career-high 26 points on 7-of-9 three-point shooting. Deyton Albury added a season-high 18 points, hitting 12-of-13 free throws.
San Diego State came in with hopes of an upset, but an injury to seven-foot center Magoon Gwath two minutes into the night was a huge blow. The Aggies took advantage of his absence, out-rebounding SDSU 38-30 and scoring 20 points in the paint.
RELATED: USU Hangs On To Sweep San Diego State, Earn Quad One Win
“It’s a dog fight all night boys.”
…. And we came out on 🔝 pic.twitter.com/xJ5aGVzg1e
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 25, 2025
USU seemed in control through the first half, but halftime adjustments allowed the Aztecs to take a 34-33 lead with 18:10 left. Utah State retook the lead until the final four minutes when San Diego State went on a 12-2 run to grab a four-point lead.
Ian Martinez answered with six quick points, knocking down a huge three off a screen and then drawing a foul on a three-point attempt. After hitting all three freebies, Utah Stae led 71-69 and never looked back.
USU closed the night on a 14-2 run to claim a 79-71 victory. The win kept the Aggies second in the MW, one game in the loss column behind New Mexico.
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Remembering Ian Martinez’s heroics over Boise State
Ian Martinez played hero in the first game between these two programs, using every bit of the rim to hit a three while being fouled. In front of a sold-out Spectrum, Martinez calmly hit the free throw, staking the Aggies to an 81-79 win.
Boise State was on fire in the first half, shooting 53.9 percent (14-of-26) from the field and 60 percent (9-of-15) from deep. The Broncos carried a 38-34 lead into halftime.
An early-scoring blitz extended the deficit to 13 after the Broncos scored the first six points of the half. The Aggies slowly battled back, trailing 55-50 won’t 12:09 left.
IAN. MARTINEZ. 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/QFDt8T1JYu
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 12, 2025
Boise State answered every USU surge, holding on to the lead until a Karson Templin lay-in with 6:44 left gave his team a 65-64 lead. It was Utah State’s first lead since the 14:07 mark in the first half.
From there, five ties and seven lead changes kept both fan bases on pins and needles down the stretch.
Trailing 79-77 with nine seconds left, Calhoun drew up an out-of-bounds play designed to get Martinez an open look at the top of the key.
A 4-POINT PLAY GAME-WINNER FOR @USUBasketball😱
(via @CBSSportsCBB) pic.twitter.com/wgGYcIUdKd
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 12, 2025
He came off the screen and, with Degenhart closing quickly, launched a three that bounced six times before dropping through the net. Degenhart was whistled for a foul on the close-out, sending Martinez to the line where he gave the Aggies an 81-79 lead.
Boise State’s frenzied final possession ended when Alvaro Cardenas’ three rimmed out.
USU vs. Boise State on FS1
- Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- Tip-Off: 8:30 p.m. (MST)
- Location: Boise, Idaho
- Venue: ExtraMile Arena
Following Utah State With KSL Sports Zone
Utah State travels to the Gem State on Wednesday, February 26, to play the Boise State Broncos. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. MT. In mid-January, the Aggies needed a fortuitous bounce leading to an Ian Martinez four-point play to beat the Broncos 81-79 in Logan.
Listen to USU basketball games on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard on the call.
Find KSL Sports coverage of Utah State University Athletics here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on Twitter and Instagram at @bpreece24.
