Extended Runs, Rebounding Woes Sink Pokes in Boise, 72-62

BOISE, Idaho -- Popeye finally cracked open a can of spinach.

That's how Sundance Wicks narrated Boise State's 9-0 run to end the half, erasing Wyoming's 30-23 lead in just 2:04. The bench boss used an all-too-familiar descriptor to demonstrate why it happened in the first place: "soft."

That has been a theme in nearly all 13 losses this season.

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Despite cutting the Broncos' lead to just two midway through the second frame, the visitors couldn't overcome a 22-5 lull Tuesday night and dropped its ninth straight game inside ExtraMile Arena, 72-62.

"We gave them loud buckets," Wicks said on his postgame show. "We had a blocked shot that turned into a layup. That was a loud bucket -- that was soft. We turned the ball over twice. That was soft. When you become soft, that gave them a little bit of juice."

Damarion Dennis netted a team-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and fellow guard Naz Meyer added a dozen. The freshman also hauled in seven rebounds. Khaden Bennett finished with nine points and Leland Walker chipped in with eight, four of which came at the free-throw line on a forgettable 2-for-14 shooting night for the senior.

The Cowboys shot 42% from the field and made just seven triples on 26 attempts.

If there's a stat that sticks out after this one, look no further than the offensive rebounding category, where Wyoming gave up 10, including eight over the final 20 minutes. That turned into 14 second-chance points, allowing the Broncos to stave off any late threats.

Spencer Ahrens was responsible for three of those offensive boards. Javan Buchanan snagged two.

"For them to go out and get eight offensive boards in the second half really spoke to our lack of toughness and physicality," Wicks added. "Then, they capitalized on that."

Dylan Andrews led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The UCLA transfer drained a pair of threes and connected on all six of his attempts from the stripe. Drew Fielder, who banked in a shot from deep to beat the first-half buzzer, finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Buchanan capped this outing with 17 points and six boards, and Andrew Meadows scored 10 and dished out three assists.

Boise State made better than 47% of its shots from the field, but was limited to just five makes from beyond the arc. Wicks said the game plan was to keep the Broncos under 10.

But the Cowboys could ill afford to lose the rebounding battle, 35-23.

Wicks said the 70-65 upset at Grand Canyon last Saturday night may have given certain guys the confidence that an outing like that would just happen again. Instead, he added, the Broncos keyed on the areas the Lopes fell short.

"We battled," he said. "We were right there where we needed to be, but at the end of the day, you have to rebound on the road to win games."

Moral victories don't account for anything in the standings, but Wicks said he's taking the glass-half-full approach with two crucial home games against Air Force and Nevada on the horizon. Wyoming will close the season March 7 at San Jose State.

"The competitive resilience is high," Wicks continued. "These guys care. They trust each other and love each other. That hasn't stopped in the locker room. I want them to try to find a way to get, you know, you got to win a couple in a row."

The Falcons (3-24, 0-16) and Cowboys (15-13, 6-11) will tipoff at 2 p.m. Saturday inside the Arena-Auditorium.

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