November 3, 2025

Article By Nick Wade

BOISE, IDAHO – It was supposed to be a tune-up, a confidence-builder, a soft opening for a Boise State men’s basketball team aiming to make history in 2025–26. Instead, it became one of the darkest nights in program memory. The Broncos, under the guidance of long-tenured coach Leon Rice, fell 78–79 at home to Division II opponent Hawai‘i Pacific in a shocking season-opening upset at ExtraMile Arena — a loss that immediately sends warning signals through Bronco Nation and leaves the team searching for answers before the season can fully take shape.

From the opening tip, there was a strange unease inside the building. The energy never quite clicked, and while Boise State showed flashes of talent and offensive rhythm, their defensive intensity was nowhere to be found. Against a team that competes at a lower division, the Broncos looked flat, slow to rotate, and passive on the perimeter. Hawai‘i Pacific shot nearly 49 percent from the field and hit nine three-pointers at a 34.6 percent clip, numbers that speak volumes about the lack of defensive discipline and urgency from a team expected to compete for a Mountain West title.

The Broncos actually outshot Hawai‘i Pacific from three, connecting on 10 of 33 for 30.3 percent, and hit free throws at an elite 92.3 percent rate. They even dominated the glass, 40–27, with a staggering 15 offensive rebounds. Yet somehow, all those statistical advantages evaporated because Boise State couldn’t get stops when it mattered most. The visitors consistently sliced through the Bronco defense, getting open looks in transition and exploiting mismatches in the half court. Time and again, rotations broke down and closeouts came late, allowing HPU’s guards to create driving lanes or pull up uncontested. It was a defensive showing that will haunt film study this week — one defined by slow feet, soft coverage, and an apparent underestimation of their opponent.

For head coach Leon Rice, this is the kind of game that feels like a gut punch. He has built this program into a perennial 20-win power, and expectations entering this season were sky-high. The return of key veterans and the addition of talented transfers like UCLA’s Dylan Andrews and Georgetown’s Drew Fielder were supposed to lift Boise State into the national conversation. Instead, a night that should have been a celebration of a new era ended in disbelief. The Broncos now sit 0-1, with their worst loss in school history staining the opening page of the season.

If there was a silver lining, it was the play of Dylan Andrews. The senior guard looked every bit the poised, dynamic floor general Boise State hoped for when he transferred from UCLA. Andrews was everywhere — scoring 15 points, dishing out nine assists, and controlling tempo when the offense was clicking. His quick first step broke down defenders, and his court vision opened clean looks for shooters like Spencer Ahrens and Andrew Meadow. He also showed leadership late, urging teammates to settle down and trust their spacing when the game tightened. For a transfer making his debut in front of a home crowd, Andrews looked comfortable under the lights, and his performance made it clear he can be the offensive engine of this team. He earned every bit of “Player of the Game” recognition, even in defeat.

Drew Fielder, the 6-foot-11 forward/center from Georgetown, also had moments that reminded everyone why Bronco Nation was so excited to land him. Fielder tallied 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a block — a well-rounded stat line that reflected his versatility. He continues to prove that while Boise State doesn’t have a true traditional center, they can rely on his length and energy at the four and five spots. Fielder’s touch around the rim and his knack for finding open space off the pick-and-roll will be crucial moving forward, especially against more physical Mountain West frontcourts.

Andrew Meadow, coming off a preseason All-Mountain West selection, posted 10 points and eight rebounds but never quite found his rhythm. Hawai‘i Pacific keyed on him defensively, denying clean catch-and-shoot opportunities and forcing him into contested looks. Meadow worked hard on the boards and remained engaged, but he’ll need to assert himself earlier in games to set the tone that fans have come to expect from one of Boise State’s most reliable shooters.

One of the most encouraging surprises was the performance of freshman forward Spencer Ahrens. The 6-foot-10 newcomer from Oakville, Ontario showed flashes of brilliance and composure beyond his years, scoring 14 points, grabbing six rebounds, and adding an assist. His combination of size, mobility, and touch makes him an intriguing piece for the Broncos moving forward. Watching him move without the ball and position himself defensively, you could see the potential that has coaches buzzing. My personal takeaway is simple: Spencer Ahrens is going to be great for Boise State. He looks like a player built for this system — active on the glass, capable of stretching the floor, and eager to learn. His presence adds depth and promise to a frontcourt that needs a consistent contributor alongside Fielder and Meadow.

Aginaldo Neto, the freshman guard from Angola and NBA Academy Africa product, chipped in seven points, three rebounds, and two assists, showing composure and flashes of the athleticism that made him a sought-after recruit. His quickness on the perimeter could make him a valuable defensive piece once he adapts to Division I pace. But like the rest of the team, his defensive execution must sharpen quickly. Hawai‘i Pacific’s guards repeatedly found seams that simply shouldn’t exist against a team with Boise State’s size and athletic advantage.

Despite the individual highlights, the collective result was sobering. Boise State turned the ball over 12 times — two more than HPU — but the real story came in transition defense and urgency. Hawai‘i Pacific converted turnovers into 23 points, while Boise State managed only 10 in return. Fast-break points told the same story: 16 for HPU, just 7 for Boise State. Every time the Broncos clawed back, sloppy possessions or missed rotations reopened the door. Even in the paint, where Boise State’s size should have dictated control, the margin was close: 38 points in the paint for HPU to 34 for Boise State. That’s not dominance; that’s parity — and against a Division II team, it’s unacceptable.

There’s no sugarcoating it. Boise State’s defense was porous, their rotations disjointed, and their intensity inconsistent. This team was built with the expectation of contending for a Mountain West crown and finally breaking through in March Madness — but that dream begins with defensive commitment. You cannot expect to earn KenPom respect, let alone an NCAA Tournament bid, if you give up nearly 50 percent shooting at home to a D-II program. The Broncos have to turn it around quickly and efficiently if they want to build a legitimate non-conference résumé. Early-season metrics matter, and this loss will weigh heavily unless Boise State responds immediately.

Coach Rice’s challenge now is psychological as much as tactical. He must reestablish urgency, discipline, and pride on defense. The offensive pieces are there — Andrews’ playmaking, Meadow’s shooting, Fielder’s interior presence, Ahrens’ upside — but none of it will matter if the Broncos cannot defend. Teams that win in March are teams that defend for forty minutes, not twenty. Boise State has the roster to be that kind of team, but they have to prove it.

There’s no time to dwell. Utah Valley visits ExtraMile Arena this Saturday, and the matchup suddenly carries heightened importance. What might have been an ordinary non-conference game now feels like a litmus test. Fans will be watching to see whether this group responds with fire or flounders under pressure. Utah Valley is no pushover, and another home loss would send early-season confidence into freefall. The Broncos must take the court with renewed focus, sharper rotations, and a collective chip on their shoulder.

Every season has defining moments — sometimes they come in March, and sometimes, like this one, they come in November. Losing to Hawai‘i Pacific is the kind of wake-up call that can either fracture a team or forge it. For Boise State, it’s an opportunity to look inward, to acknowledge the embarrassment, and to grow from it. There is talent here. There is leadership here. But talent without toughness is potential unfulfilled. If the Broncos are serious about rewriting their postseason story, the rewrite has to begin now — with defense, effort, and accountability.

The scoreboard will forever read 79–78, a one-point loss that will sting for a long time. But the real story is whether Boise State allows this night to define them or to ignite them. Bronco Nation expects a response. The season is young, and the chance for redemption begins immediately. The next time the lights come on inside ExtraMile Arena, the Broncos need to look like a team that remembers what this loss felt like — and refuses to feel it again.