Martin’s free throws, Rice’s 3-point heave carry Boise State over No. 21 SDSU, 79-77 in OT

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This article was published 09/03/2024 (922 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Cam Martin made two free throws with 1.7 seconds left, Max Rice swished an eye-popping 3-pointer from about 40 feet earlier in overtime and Boise State stunned No. 21 San Diego State 79-77 on Friday night to keep alive its chances of sharing the Mountain West title.

Rice, the son of coach Leon Rice, hobbled off with what appeared to be a knee injury with 8:49 left in regulation but later returned. With the shot clock winding down, he heaved in a long 3-pointer from a few feet inside the halfcourt line to give BSU a 77-72 lead with 1:58 to go in overtime.

“When he let that go, I kind of knew it was in,” said Leon Rice. “It’s lucky, it’s not lucky, I don’t know. Shooters have a better chance.”

Max Rice said he and his father “were going back and forth those last couple possessions; he kept yelling at me, didn’t think I was doing enough. I play better with my back against the wall and that was kind of a look at him moment like I just felt like I had to make it or he was going to cut me the next day.”

Rice said he practices long shots.

“Even in warmups I try to do three makes from about, not that deep, obviously, because I’ve seen the replay, but from a little bit closer than that.”

The Aztecs tied it with a shot off a rebound by Micah Parrish and a 3-pointer by Darrion Trammell. Martin was fouled and made both shots for the lead. He then blocked a desperation heave by Trammell at the buzzer to silence the crowd at Viejas Arena and send his teammates bounding onto the court in celebration.

It was the most points BSU has ever scored in San Diego.

The Broncos (22-9, 13-5) need Utah State to lose to New Mexico on Saturday to earn a share of the title with the Aggies and the winner of the Nevada-UNLV game. The Aggies have already earned at least a share of the title after being picked ninth in the preseason conference poll.

Roddie Anderson III scored 16 points, including a short jumper to send it to overtime, while Tyson Degenhart had 14 and Rice, O’Mar Stanley and San Diegan Chibuzo Agbo had 10 apiece.

Jaedon LeDee scored 21 points for the Aztecs but was held scoreless in the final 13 minutes of regulation and in overtime. Lamont Butler scored 13, Micah Parrish 12 and Trammell 11.

The Broncos not only ruined SDSU’s Senior Night, but denied the Aztecs (22-9, 11-7) their first perfect record at home since 1966-67. They finished 14-1.

SDSU twice had 10-point leads in regulation before the Broncos rallied.

Butler made a layup for a 70-67 lead with 1:10 to go before Agbo, who played at San Diego’s St. Augustine High, hit a corner 3-pointer to tie it with 52 seconds left. Butler made both ends of a one-and-one but then missed the front end with 31.1 seconds left and Anderson hit a short jumper to send it to overtime.

Max Rice said this might have been the biggest game in program history.

“Absolutely. They’re coming off the (Final Four) run and they have six guys who contributed to that and I think it’s super hard to win on Senior Night. Nevada ruined my Senior Night so I felt like it was my turn to ruin someone else’s, honestly.”

BIG PICTURE

Boise State: The Broncos have won six of their last seven games.

San Diego State: The Aztecs were coming off a 62-58 loss at UNLV in which they shot only 28.1%. They started off cold Friday night but finished at 44.8%.

UP NEXT

Both teams will find out after Saturday’s final league games what seed they will be for next week’s conference tournament in Las Vegas.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball