Boise State 75, Evansville 69
BOISE, Idaho
– (BSU Media Relations) The Boise State men’s basketball team boasts seven seniors on its roster, and freshman forward Ryan Watkins made sure they would get to continue their collegiate careers. Watkins scored a game- and career-high 18 points in leading Boise State to a 75-69 victory over Evansville in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational presented by Zebra Pen Monday, at Taco Bell Arena.
Watkins also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
Seniors Daequon Montreal (14) and La’Shard Anderson (11) and junior Westly Perryman (10) also scored in double figures for Boise State. With a game-high six assists, Anderson extended his school single-season record to 164.
The Broncos entered halftime with a 30-23 advantage, but the Purple Aces were able to inch back into the game, taking a 50-48 lead with 9-minutes, 9-seconds remaining in the second half. Boise State used a 15-6 run over the next seven minutes to surge back to a seven-point lead, and the Broncos held on for the win.
With the victory, the Broncos improved to 22-12 on the season. The 22 wins are the fifth-most in school history.
Boise State also won a second postseason game for just the second time in school history.
After being one of the nation’s final 20 undefeated teams, Boise State will be one of just 35 Division I teams still playing following Monday’s slate of games.
The Broncos will face Oregon Wednesday, in the semifinals of the CBI at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. A tip time has yet to be set.