Boise State Edges Saint Mary's 68-67 in Close Game

In Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Boise State Broncos edged out the Saint Mary's Gaels 68-67 on Sunday in a tense nonconference matchup at the Mountain America Center, marking the third consecutive year the teams have delivered a one-point thriller.

The Broncos, now 8-3, built an early advantage, jumping to a 13-0 lead that forced an early timeout from Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett. Boise State carried a 37-32 halftime edge, powered by 12 first-half points from junior transfer Drew Fielder. The 6-foot-11 forward finished with a game-high 22 points and six rebounds, exploiting mismatches against the Gaels' towering frontcourt of 7-foot-1 Harry Wessels and 7-foot-3 Andrew McKeever, who combined for just seven points and 10 rebounds.

Saint Mary's, falling to 9-2, mounted a furious comeback in the closing minutes. Leading 66-52 with 4:24 remaining after a 3-pointer from senior guard Dylan Andrews, Boise State appeared in control. But the Gaels responded with a 12-0 run over the next four minutes, capitalizing on five turnovers and three missed shots by the Broncos to pull within 66-64 with 15 seconds left. Redshirt senior guard RJ Keene then delivered an inbound pass over the press to...