The Boise State Broncos made a statement on Saturday night, defeating the North Texas Mean Green 69-64 in a hard-fought battle. Led by the leadership of Emmanuel Akot and Derrick Alston Jr., the Broncos were able to overcome a late surge from the Mean Green to secure the victory.
Akot and Alston Jr. were both instrumental in the win, combining for 33 points and 11 rebounds. Akot was especially impressive, finishing with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was a force on both ends of the floor, providing the Broncos with a much-needed spark on offense and a strong defensive presence.
The Broncos also received key contributions from Justinian Jessup and Abu Kigab. Jessup finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds while Kigab added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Both players provided a spark off the bench and helped the Broncos maintain their lead throughout the game.
The Mean Green were led by Ryan Woolridge and Umoja Gibson. Woolridge finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Gibson added 14 points and 8 rebounds. The duo kept the Mean Green in the game throughout, but ultimately it was not enough to overcome the Broncos’ strong performance.
The win was an important one for the Broncos as they continue to make their case for an NCAA tournament berth. With the victory, Boise State improved to 18-7 on the season and remain firmly in contention for an at-large bid.
The Broncos will look to build on this victory as they take on San Diego State on Wednesday night. If they can continue to play with the same level of intensity and leadership that they showed against North Texas, they should be in good shape to make a deep run in March.
