The Broncos (2-1) closed a nine-point deficit in the first half to go into the lockerroom down 41-38. O’Mar Stanley tied the game on the first possession of the second half – he drew a foul on a made layup to make it 41-41.
From there the Tigers (4-0) shot 50-percent percent from three in the second half and used a 25-12 advantage on the boards to control the second half and hand Boise State its first loss of the season. Coming out of a called timeout, Alex Hemenway made a 3-pointer at the top of the arc to make it a 13-point game.
Chibuzo Agbo led a trio of Boise State scorers in double figures with 18 points.
Quotable
- We had a lot of guys do some good things for us,” said head coach Leon Rice. “A couple guys did some really good things . . . That game was lost on the glass. We haven’t been (beaten) like that in (a long time). We knew that coming in – (Clemson) is picked toward the top of the ACC for a reason.”
- “Our defense did a really good job,” said Rice. “If you take away those offensive rebounds – but it’s not a stop until you get the rebound. That’s the difference.”
- “They’re a really good team and for the first half we did some really good things,” said forward Cam Martin. “In the second half we did a bad job rebounding and it (beat) us. They can’t get double the rebounds we had – that can’t happen.”
Top Broncos
- Chibuzo Agbo shot 4-7 from the field and finished with 18 points, four rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.
- Cam Martin scored 15 points to go along with seven boards and four assists – the latter were team highs.
- O’Mar Stanley added 11 points, four rebounds and a steal off the bench.
Notables
- This is the farthest distance Boise State has traveled for a true road game since playing at NC State in 2014. (To Raleigh, N.C. – 2,444.7 miles ; To Clemson, S.C. – 2,280.8 miles).
- Eleven Broncos saw the floor in the game.
- Boise State has posted 8+ steals in back-to-back games.
- The Broncos averaged 1.027 points per possession in the first half.
What’s Next
Boise State faces a quick turnaround to the ESPN Events Invitational, Nov. 23-26.The Broncos will remain on the East Coast and open the tournament against Virginia Tech.