With Shaver back on the court, Boise State basketball makes quick work of Wyoming

Marcus Shaver Jr. remains unsatisfied.

In his first game back from an ankle injury, the fifth-year point guard scored 17 points and had four assists, four rebounds and one steal.

Even so, he was on the court at ExtraMile Arena putting up shots following Boise State’s 75-63 victory over Wyoming in a Mountain West matchup Saturday night.

“I’m still not 100 percent, but it’s just good to be with the guys, being able to help contribute as much as I can,” Shaver said.

With Shaver on the court, the Broncos (19-6, 9-3 MW) are a different team. Without him, Boise State fell by 20 points to first-place San Diego State.

“I was really pleased with how he looked tonight,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said of Shaver. “A little rusty, but he hadn’t played for a while. It seemed like an infinity since we’ve had him play because he played at Air Force (on Jan. 31) and then that’s been about two weeks. For him to come back and play like he did, that’s impressive.”

Rice and crew were just happy to see their senior floor general back on the court, and all five of Boise State’s starters scored in double figures Saturday against the Cowboys (7-16, 2-9).

Sophomore Tyson Degenhart was 9-for-11 from the floor for a game-best 20 points. Degenhart is shooting 72.7% from the field over the past five games (32-of-44).

But it was often fifth-year senior Naje Smith who stole the spotlight against the Cowboys. The Spokane, Washington, native had several impressive dunks, including a two-handed throw-down with his back to the basket.

Smith recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while adding four assists, three steals and one blocked shot. He is the first Mountain West player to hit all five categories in a conference game since Justin Bean did so against Nevada on Feb. 28, 2021.

“I’ve always just been so tall and long and awkward that just being anywhere around the basket, I just kind of jump up and dunk it, even at weird angles,” Smith said. “It’s always been kind of part of my game, so I’m just happy that it’s finally showing through.”

Boise State led from start to finish and by as many as 24 points against the Cowboys while shooting 52.9% from the floor and 41.2% from 3-point range. The Broncos also outrebounded the Cowboys 34-19, including 12 offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.

Although the Cowboys closed out the game with an 11-0 run, the Broncos had built such a sizable lead, their advantage was never threatened. Wyoming is down to just seven scholarship players because of injury and transfers.

“We hit timely buckets that curtailed some of their runs,” Rice said. “There’s no quit in that Wyoming team. They were fighting.”

The Broncos are back in action Wednesday at Colorado State. Tipoff is 8 p.m. at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado, and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1, or listen on the radio on KBOI 670 AM.

Women’s basketball: UNLV ends Broncos’ win streak

After hanging with first-place UNLV for the majority of the game, Boise State missed six of its last seven shots and dropped a 76-63 Mountain West contest Saturday at ExtraMile Arena.

The Rebels (24-2, 14-0 MW) earned at least a share of the Mountain West regular-season championship with the win and can claim it outright with a victory over San Jose State on Thursday.

The loss ended Boise State’s season-best four-game winning streak.

“I thought the first half was really good women’s basketball,” Boise State coach Gordy Presnell said. “Really good women’s basketball for our level of mid-major and two teams that went at it.”

Boise State (13-14, 8-6) held its own against first-place UNLV in a first half that featured 11 lead changes and five ties. Freshman forward Tatum Thompson led the way, collecting a career-high 14 points by halftime, including going 6-for-7 from the field and making her first five shots. Thompson finished with a team-leading 19 points.

Thompson missed the Broncos’ entire nonconference schedule with a broken foot and is just 14 games into her collegiate career.

“I think she can be one of the all-time greats if she puts her mind to it and stays with it,” Presnell said.

The Broncos led 39-37 with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter, but the Rebels took a 40-39 lead into halftime thanks to a three-point play from Essence Booker with 48.9 seconds left. Boise State shot 50% from the field in the first half but was outrebounded 21-17. The Rebels grabbed eight offensive rebounds that led to nine second-chance points, and finished with 17 for the game.

Booker and junior center Desi-Rae Young combined for 46 points and 18 rebounds to pace the Rebels, who led 58-52 after three quarters.

“We’re gonna keep grinding and keep plugging away,” Presnell said. “I don’t think any of our players are putting up the white flag.”

The Broncos return to action Thursday at Air Force. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. at Clune Arena in USAFA, Colorado, and the game will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network, or listen on the radio on KBOI 670 AM.

Note: Abby Muse tied the program’s single-season block record with 77. The junior tied Camille Redmon, who blocked 77 shots during the 2014-15 season. Muse is already the program’s all-time career block leader.

BOISE ST. 75, WYOMING 63

Oden 4-15 4-4 14, Thompson 0-1 0-0 0, Dusell 4-8 2-2 13, Maldonado 6-8 1-3 14, Wenzel 4-10 2-2 12, Barnhart 1-2 0-0 2, Powell 4-6 0-2 8, Roberson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-50 9-13 63.

Degenhart 9-11 0-0 20, N.Smith 7-11 3-5 18, Agbo 2-9 6-6 10, M.Rice 4-7 1-1 10, Shaver 5-11 4-4 17, Milner 0-0 0-2 0, Young 0-1 0-0 0, Whiting 0-0 0-0 0, Kuzmanovic 0-0 0-0 0, NgaNga 0-0 0-0 0, B.Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Sylla 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-51 14-18 75.

Halftime—Boise St. 41-23. 3-Point Goals—Wyoming 8-16 (Dusell 3-4, Oden 2-4, Wenzel 2-6, Maldonado 1-1, Thompson 0-1), Boise St. 7-17 (Shaver 3-6, Degenhart 2-2, M.Rice 1-3, N.Smith 1-3, Agbo 0-3). Fouled Out—Thompson, M.Rice. Rebounds—Wyoming 17 (Powell 5), Boise St. 31 (N.Smith 10). Assists—Wyoming 8 (Maldonado 3), Boise St. 9 (N.Smith, Shaver 4). Total Fouls—Wyoming 19, Boise St. 19. A—11,307 (12,480).