Boise State ends exhibition season with 104-37 win over Bismarck State

Boise State men's basketball concluded its exhibition schedule with a 3-0 record following a 104-37 victory over Bismarck State College on Thursday night at ExtraMile Arena. The Broncos held a severe talent advantage over the visiting Mystics and used the final exhibition game to test their depth and rebounding strategies.

The game featured a stark shift in momentum after a slow start. Boise State committed eight fouls in the opening six minutes and trailed 14-8 early in the contest. After that point, the Broncos executed a 39-4 run to take a 53-12 lead. The team dominated the interior, grabbing 26 offensive rebounds that resulted in 30 second-chance points for the night.

Julian Bowie led the scoring effort with 11 points and seven assists. He contributed nine of those points in the first half. Dovydas Butka added nine points and eight rebounds. Spencer Ahrens finished a fast break with an alley-oop dunk off a Bismarck turnover during the first half. The Broncos also displayed increased physicality, diving for loose balls and making hustle plays throughout the contest.

North Dakota State transfer Damari Wheeler-Thomas played only in the opening minutes. He secured three offensive rebounds before falling on the floor after a layup attempt. Head coach Leon Rice stated that Wheeler-Thomas bruised his hip and was kept out for the remainder of the game as a precaution.

Ethan Lathan received the most playing time of his early season, appearing in 14 minutes. He finished with eight points and nine rebounds, including five offensive boards. Lathan finished an alley-oop from Bowie through contact in the first half and made the resulting free throw. He also noted that the roster's depth allows the team to play through the full rotation of 12 players.

Jikany Deang scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers, after playing only two minutes in the previous two exhibitions. He described the faster pace of the game at Boise State as a welcomed challenge for his development. Freshman Brady Hennig made his first appearance of the exhibition schedule after a summer injury. He recorded six points and four rebounds in 16 minutes.

Coach Rice emphasized that rebounding determines who sees the floor for the Broncos. He said the team knows that if a player does not rebound, they do not play. Rice also noted that Lathan made strides during the offseason and that his success in the exhibition game was important for the team's future rotation.

The Broncos received 65 points from their bench in this game, compared to 35 bench points total in their first two exhibitions. All 12 players who entered the game scored. Boise State begins the regular season against West Coast Baptist on Nov. 4 at ExtraMile Arena.