Mar 5, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos forward Tyson Degenhart (2) dunks during the second half against the Nevada Wolf Pack at ExtraMile Arena. Nevada beats Boise Statwe 76-66. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images
Tyson Degenhart registered 19 points and three steals and Pearson Carmichael added 15 points and a career-best six thefts to lead Boise State to a solid 89-59 victory over George Washington in the first round of the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament on Monday in Las Vegas.
Degenhart made 8 of 12 shots, including all three of his 3-point attempts, as the Broncos (25-10) won for the 12th time in the past 15 games. Andrew Meadow also scored 15 points and Javan Buchanan scored 11 for Boise State.
Trey Autry made four 3-pointers and scored 16 points for George Washington (21-13). Ty Bevins and Rafael Castro added 11 points for the Revolutionaries.
The Broncos will face Butler in Wednesday’s second round. The Bulldogs recorded an 86-84 victory over Utah on Monday.
Having another game works well for Degenhart’s pursuit of becoming Boise State’s first 2,000-point scorer. His career point total sits at 1,990.
Boise State shot 50 percent from the field, including 9 of 25 from 3-point range. The Broncos dominated in transition with an 18-0 edge in fastbreak points and a 27-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Revolutionaries committed 22 turnovers while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and hitting 8 of 26 3-point attempts.
George Washington trailed by 11 early in the second half but later pulled within 43-40 on a 3-pointer by Bevins with 15:04 left in the game.
Boise State scored the next eight points and 28 of 36 to blow the game open.
Carmichael scored five points during the 8-0 run that made it 51-40 with 13:33 remaining.
At the end of the big surge, Alvaro Cardenas (six assists, three steals overall) and Degenhart buried 3-pointers, Carmichael added a hoop and Julian Bowie (10 points) stroked a 3 as the Broncos’ lead reached 71-48 with 7:43 left.
The lead continued to grow as Boise State remained in control.
Buchanan scored eight first-half points as the Broncos led 32-26 at the break.
Boise State missed 10 of its first 11 shots over the first eight minutes but George Washington only led 7-2.
The Revolutionaries led 15-12 on a 3-pointer by Autry with 8:39 left in the half before the Broncos awoke with a 14-4 burst. Buchanan finished the run with a dunk as Boise State led 26-19 with 3:24 remaining.
George Washington moved back within four before Buchanan’s basket as time expired gave the Broncos the six-point halftime edge.
–Field Level Media
