Bubble Implications Loom as Boise State Hosts New Mexico in Pivotal Matchup
A crucial Mountain West Conference clash takes center stage Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, as the Boise State Broncos host the New Mexico Lobos. With NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, both teams enter this rematch with urgency and heightened stakes.
Recent Form: Broncos Surging, Lobos Stumbling
Boise State (20-8) boasts a hot streak, winning four straight and six of their last eight. Meanwhile, New Mexico (21-7) has stumbled recently, winning only three of their last seven games, including a shocking home loss to Air Force, the conference’s second-worst team.
Tournament Outlook: Broncos in Control, Lobos in Danger
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently projects New Mexico as one of the last four teams in the NCAA Tournament, while Boise State is more comfortably situated as a 7 seed. These projections highlight the urgency for the Lobos, who cannot afford any more slip-ups.
Previous Meeting and Conference Standings
The teams met recently on January 31st, with Boise State securing a road win (86-78). The Broncos share the top spot in the Mountain West standings with Utah State (11-4 conference record), showcasing their dominance at home (12-2). New Mexico sits in sixth place (9-6), with an underwhelming road record (5-4).
Key Players
Jaelen House and Donovan Dent fuel the Lobos’ attack with 15.5 points per game each. Boise State relies on Tyson Degenhart (16.8 PPG) and Chibuzo Agbo (13.8 PPG) to lead their offense.
Prediction
While out predictive model favors Boise State (79-76), the Lobos’ desperation and potential for a bounce-back performance make this a game where anything could happen.