The Boise State Broncos kicked off their season with an impressive 87-43 victory over Oakland University on Wednesday night at Mile High Arena in Boise, Idaho.
The Broncos are the preseason favorites in the Mountain West Conference. Boise State also received some votes for the AP Top 25 poll and ranked third in the Mid-Major Basketball Preseason Top 25 Poll.
The Bronco starting five led the scoring through the night. Four out of five Bronco starters scored in double figures, with one starter, Alvaro Cardenas, just one point shy from joining the crew.
Senior O’Mar Stanley and sophomore Andrew Meadow led the Broncos in scoring. O’Mar finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Meadow also posted 15 points while snagging five rebounds and three steals, getting things done on both ends of the floor.
Boise State retained its key core of O’Mar and senior Tyson Degenhart. Degenhart started the season with a solid game, posting 13 points and five rebounds.
The Broncos managed to get another key addition in the offseason, senior transfer Guard Alvaro Cardenas from San Jose State. Boise State brought in Cardenas to round out the backcourt giving Degenhart some assistance in handling the ball.
Alvaro averaged 13.2 points and 5.5 assists last season at San Jose State. On Wednesday, the senior posted nine points and looked fluid in Boise State’s roster. Cardenas dished out six assists and brought his shifty guard play from the bay to Mile High Arena.
The Broncos made their presence felt. They managed to outrebound the Golden Grizzlies 45-31, a significant sway that became one of the keys to the victory.
The Broncos dominated the rebounding game, and the team managed to keep the turnover margin low. Boise State gave up seven turnovers while forcing 10 on Oakland. Off those 10 turnovers, the Broncos cashed in 12 points.
“We wanted to play with passion, energy, and togetherness, and that’s what it really looked like,” Boise State coach Leon Rice said after the impressive victory. “I think they did a good job of loosening up and going out to play.”
Boise State has a quick turnaround as the team travels to San Francisco to take on the San Francisco Dons on Saturday. The matchup is the Mid-Major Basketball Game of the Week and tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
