Box Score

BOISE, Idaho - Boise State showcased its offensive power in defeating the University of Hawai`i men's basketball team, 95-80, Thursday night at the Taco Bell Arena. The loss snapped UH's modest two-game winning streak and dropped the Rainbow Warriors to 7-11 overall and 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Boise State (14-5, 5-2 WAC) entered the game as the WAC's most potent offense, leading the league in scoring and the nation in field goal percentage. The Broncos were true to form against Hawai`i, scoring 95 points and draining 14-of-22 three pointers, both season highs by a UH opponent this year. It was the second straight game the Broncos tallied 95 points, after hanging that total at Nevada last Saturday.

The Broncos led wire-to-wire and after a slow start by both teams began to blow the game open midway in the first half. Boise State led by 25 at the break and by as many as 31 points in the second half, before a late Hawai`i surge cut into the deficit. UH still lost by double-digits despite scoring 58 second-half points.

Matt Bauscher sparked the BSU rout by scoring 16 of his team-high 21 points in the first half. Bauscher buried all five of his three-point attempts for the game, including four in the first half. Senior post player Matt Nelson added 18 points, while Tyler Tiedmann chipped in 17 for the Broncos.

Matt Gibson scored a game-high 26 points for UH, 18 of those coming in the second half, to tie his career high. Riley Luettgerodt finished with 14 points and Bobby Nash scored all 13 of his points in the second half when the game was well decided. Freshman point guard Kareem Nitoto produced a career total with 10 points in nine minutes of action.

The weather was frigid outside and so were the 'Bows early on. UH shot just 31 percent in the first half and turned the ball over 10 times. Despite their woes, the 'Bows trailed by just six midway through the first half. The Broncos, however, exploded for 34 points in the final 9:34 of the first half to take a 47-22 lead into the locker room. The 25-point deficit was UH's biggest at half all year.

UH plays the second game of its road trip as it travels to Moscow to face Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Cowan Spectrum.

 

 

 

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