Box Score
Post Game Quotes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team opened its Western Athletic Conference season with a 70-58 loss to Boise State Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH dropped to 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the WAC with the loss.

 

Boise State closed the game with a 12-2 run to seal the win in the conference opener for both teams. The Broncos (10-3, 1-0 WAC) won their fourth straight  game, while handing UH its sixth straight regular-season WAC loss dating back to last year. It was also Boise State's fourth straight win over UH.

 

Roderick Flemings led UH with 21 points, while Petras Balocka notched his third career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior center Kurt Cunnigham led Boise State with 14 points. Mark Sanchez chipped in a double-double for the Broncos with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

 

The game was back-and-forth for the first 10 minutes, but the Broncos went on a 13-2 run to gain separation. The Broncos eventually took a 35-29 lead into the locker room on the strength of 56 percent shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.

 

Boise State scored the first five points in the second half to push its lead back to 11 and maintained a double-digit lead five minutes into the half. UH roared back with a 16-6 run, capped by an Adhar Mayen three-pointer to tie the game, 51-51 with less than 10 minutes left.

 

The Broncos had an answer with six straight points. A Bill Amis free throw made it a 58-56 game with less than five minutes remaining. But UH would score just two points the rest of the way as UH lost for just the second time in its last 10 home games.

 

UH out-rebounded Boise State, 41-35 and committed just 14 turnovers to BSU's 18. The Broncos countered with 50 percent shooting from the field. The 'Bows shot just 36 percent and made just 10 trips to the free throw line after entering the game averaging 30 free throw attempts a game.

 

Hawaii` looks to rebound when it hosts Louisiana Tech in the final game of its eight-game home stand on Monday, Jan. 5. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.