November 18, 2025

Article By Nick Wade

BOISE, Idaho – A cold shooting start, a restless crowd, and an opponent built to drag games into the mud created the exact kind of November test that exposes whether a team has the toughness required for a successful postseason résumé. On Tuesday night inside ExtraMile Arena, Boise State proved it has the substance and resilience to outlast adversity, grinding out a 62–59 win over Wichita State, a team sitting 98th on KenPom and possessing just enough length and discipline to bother anyone who fails to match its physicality. The Broncos improved to 4–1, and while it was far from their most fluid performance of the young season, it may end up being one of the most important given how these early victories tend to age by March.

The beginning was defined by frustration. Boise State’s offense slipped into an uncomfortable rhythm, missing open looks and struggling to find the inside-out flow that has been their hallmark when they are playing free. Wichita State’s defensive game plan challenged the Broncos to shoot over the top, forcing contested jumpers and closing down driving lanes. At one point, it felt like the basket had shrunk to the size of a coffee mug. Yet what kept Boise State from falling into a deeper hole was its defense, the unit that has quietly become its most reliable compass. Possession after possession the Broncos refused to let the Shockers build separation, contesting shots without fouling, walling off the paint, and staying patient enough to wait for their offense to catch up.

Once it did, the energy inside the arena shifted. The crowd had been engaged all night, but it wasn’t until the Broncos began stringing together scoring possessions that the building felt like it was leaning forward. The turning point came as Boise State found the right blend of pace and precision, finally forcing Wichita State to guard multiple actions rather than the first shot of a possession. The patience paid off. Andrew Meadow was the spark that kept Boise State’s confidence alive on a night when every shot mattered.

Meadow delivered the type of performance that defines a player of the game, finishing with fifteen points, five rebounds, and two assists, but the numbers alone do not capture how essential his presence was. He played with poise when everything around him felt rushed. He attacked the glass with aggression, especially in moments when the Broncos desperately needed extra possessions to compensate for their shooting woes. His decision-making was sharp, opting for the correct read on drive-and-kicks, stepping into mid-range shots with conviction, and providing a calm anchor during offensive droughts. He understood when to push the tempo and when to slow the game down. More importantly, Meadow’s competitive fire set the tone for the final minutes.

Drew Fielder’s seventeen points and six rebounds were equally crucial, especially given how much defensive attention Wichita State threw at him. He went seven for thirteen from the field and played with an assertiveness that turned momentum the Broncos’ way. His touch around the rim and willingness to battle through contact gave Boise State the interior scoring presence that ultimately shifted the game’s balance. Every time the offense sputtered, Fielder seemed to be the one to reset the rhythm, whether by sealing deep, fighting for a rebound, or forcing the Shockers to collapse on him and free up perimeter actions.

Dylan Andrews quietly authored one of the most complete floor-general performances of the night with ten points, four rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Andrews saw the game better than anyone on the floor, reading Wichita State’s defensive rotations and exploiting them as the night progressed. His seven assists reflected his growing comfort as the team’s initiator, and his poise against pressure helped Boise State navigate the most tense stretches of the second half. His ability to disrupt passing lanes defensively created critical scoring opportunities that prevented Wichita State from regaining momentum.

Javan Buchanan chipped in seven points, two rebounds, and two assists, providing timely bursts of offense and giving Boise State valuable composure on the perimeter. His willingness to fight defensively and make the extra pass demonstrated the depth and adaptability the Broncos will need as they prepare for the next stage of their schedule.

What made this win even more significant were the team statistics that highlighted both the struggle and the persistence. Boise State shot just under thirty-seven percent from the field but held Wichita State to an even lower thirty-six percent. The Broncos went seven for seventeen from three, a respectable clip considering the early cold spell, while Wichita State managed only four makes from deep. Boise State’s fifteen made free throws came at critical junctures, while the Shockers’ thirteen kept them within striking distance but never in control. Rebounding was nearly even, with Boise State’s thirty-eight boards narrowly trailing Wichita State’s forty, yet the margin never felt overwhelming thanks to the Broncos’ physical commitment on the glass.

The game tightened in the final minutes as both teams traded defensive stops, and every possession felt like a referendum on execution. Boise State avoided costly mistakes and forced Wichita State into late-clock decisions. When the moment demanded composure, the Broncos displayed it. When the game tilted into chaos, they stayed centered. By the time the final horn sounded, the three-point margin was an accurate reflection of the balance of the night: closely contested, rugged, and ultimately decided by the team that found just enough offense when it needed it.

This victory resonates beyond the box score. A home win over a top-100 KenPom opponent is precisely the kind that builds the backbone of a nonconference résumé. It shows that Boise State can grind out wins when the shooting falters and that its defense is capable of carrying it through stretches when the offense loses rhythm. More importantly, it reinforces something head coach Leon Rice has often emphasized: toughness travels, and toughness translates. Performances like this age well because they demonstrate habits, not luck.

Now the Broncos turn their attention toward one of the biggest opportunities of their early schedule, the Maui Invitational, where they will open against eighteenth-ranked USC on KenPom. It is a stage that offers multiple chances for Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories, the kind of résumé-shaping outcomes that define March seeding and postseason positioning. Boise State enters the tournament with confidence tempered by experience. They have already seen what it looks like to be out of rhythm. They have already proven what it takes to recover from it.

The USC matchup at 3 p.m. MT on Monday on ESPN2 will demand everything Boise State has learned through its first five games. It will require a blend of discipline, athleticism, execution, and emotional toughness. But the Broncos will walk onto that floor in Maui with belief, forged by a comeback and validated by a win that did not rely on talent alone. They earned this one by defending with purpose, executing with patience, and trusting the players who rose to the moment.

If Boise State continues to stack performances like this, their résumé will reflect more than wins and numbers. It will reflect identity, resilience, and the makings of a team capable of playing meaningful basketball deep into the season.