Boise St defeats Saint Mary's 68-67
Boise St Edges Saint Mary's in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown
In a nail-biting matchup, Boise State University emerged victorious over visiting Saint Mary's College of California, 68-67, at the Mountain America Center on Sunday night.
The home team took an early lead, outscoring their guests by three points at halftime, 37-32. However, Saint Mary's clawed its way back into the contest, narrowing the deficit to just one point with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Unfortunately for the visitors, Boise State held strong, securing the win and spoiling the road team's chances.
The difference-maker in this contest was the strong performance of senior guard Drew Fielder, who poured in 22 points on 2-6 three-point shooting and 58.8% field goal accuracy. His impressive display helped Boise State maintain a significant lead throughout much of the game.
In contrast, Saint Mary's relied heavily on sophomore Paulius Murauskas, who chipped in with 21 points but struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1-2 threes. Despite his efforts, the Gaels were unable to overcome their struggles from distance and fell short in the end.
The game featured a number of key statistics that tell the story of this intense matchup. Boise State's offense was efficient, shooting 48% from the field and 57.6% from two-point range. The home team also showed significant strength on the glass, grabbing 26 defensive rebounds to outrebound Saint Mary's by just one.
Saint Mary's, meanwhile, relied heavily on free throw shooting, making 83% of their attempts but ultimately falling short in the final frame. Their fast break offense was also a notable aspect of the game, as they scored 15 points on the break against Boise State's defense.
In terms of advanced statistics, Boise State's true shooting percentage (58.5%) and free throw rate (26.9%) were among the highest in the country for teams with similar numbers of possessions. However, Saint Mary's' eFG% (41.2%) was a significant difference-maker, as they struggled to find their range from beyond the arc throughout much of the contest.
This win marked Boise State's first victory over a ranked opponent this season and serves as a significant statement in the Mountain West Conference standings. The Gaels, meanwhile, will look to regroup and refocus after a tough road loss that may have come at a critical juncture in their non-conference schedule.
The stage is set for Boise State to continue its push through the conference, while Saint Mary's seeks to bounce back from this difficult defeat.