Both teams have won four straight; Broncos seek victory in rematch
Nary a day goes by in sports these days when a team is performing well that the old clich? of "one game at a time" comes up.
In a way, the Boise State men's basketball team can't help it with how much of a slog the Mountain West can be.
"It's not lame; it's really how it has to be," coach Leon Rice said. "? If you leave your focus on one game or team, there's no way it can be done."
Coming off a 77-68 win at Air Force on Saturday, that immediate shift to the next one was completely necessary. Colorado State comes to take on Boise State at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Both teams are riding four-game winning streaks, best in the league, and the Rams are fresh off a huge 79-73 win at home over San Diego State. Senior forward J.J. Avila had 29 points in the victory, earning Mountain West player of the week honors Monday.
"Boy, did they look good," Rice said. "? They've been one of the most consistent teams in the country, really."
It will be the teams' second meeting in four weeks - Colorado State won 71-65 in Fort Collins, Colo., on Dec. 31. The Broncos trailed by one with less than a minute to go before the Rams salted it away with free throws.
"They came off a big win, so we know they'll be ready, and we're going to be ready," Boise State senior guard Derrick Marks said. "We had a chance to win, but at the end, they got away. This time, we're looking to fix the mistakes we made."
Tuesday's game will see the Broncos and Rams looking different than they did before. Marks had nine points after missing the prior week's practices. He's averaged 25.5 points per game since. That game was one of only two starting junior forward Tiel Daniels hasn't played for Colorado State as he fought a shoulder injury.
"Last time, we were limping in pretty bad ? Derrick was at 60 percent at best," Rice said. "It didn't seem that long ago, but you look at who we played and who we started, and it was so different. They didn't have Daniels. It's just the way basketball is."
During the four-game winning streak, the Broncos have shown a knack for closing out games, while forcing 14.5 turnovers per game and giving up fewer than 10. Against a Rams team 8-1 in games decided by six points or less, that likely will be needed should the Broncos want their first five-game league winning streak since 2010-11, when they were in the WAC.
"Down the stretch, we've been getting stops. That's all it's come down to," Marks said. "? This year, I think that's the biggest step we've made."
Nary a day goes by in sports these days when a team is performing well that the old clich? of "one game at a time" comes up.
In a way, the Boise State men's basketball team can't help it with how much of a slog the Mountain West can be.
"It's not lame; it's really how it has to be," coach Leon Rice said. "? If you leave your focus on one game or team, there's no way it can be done."
Coming off a 77-68 win at Air Force on Saturday, that immediate shift to the next one was completely necessary. Colorado State comes to take on Boise State at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Both teams are riding four-game winning streaks, best in the league, and the Rams are fresh off a huge 79-73 win at home over San Diego State. Senior forward J.J. Avila had 29 points in the victory, earning Mountain West player of the week honors Monday.
"Boy, did they look good," Rice said. "? They've been one of the most consistent teams in the country, really."
It will be the teams' second meeting in four weeks - Colorado State won 71-65 in Fort Collins, Colo., on Dec. 31. The Broncos trailed by one with less than a minute to go before the Rams salted it away with free throws.
"They came off a big win, so we know they'll be ready, and we're going to be ready," Boise State senior guard Derrick Marks said. "We had a chance to win, but at the end, they got away. This time, we're looking to fix the mistakes we made."
Tuesday's game will see the Broncos and Rams looking different than they did before. Marks had nine points after missing the prior week's practices. He's averaged 25.5 points per game since. That game was one of only two starting junior forward Tiel Daniels hasn't played for Colorado State as he fought a shoulder injury.
"Last time, we were limping in pretty bad ? Derrick was at 60 percent at best," Rice said. "It didn't seem that long ago, but you look at who we played and who we started, and it was so different. They didn't have Daniels. It's just the way basketball is."
During the four-game winning streak, the Broncos have shown a knack for closing out games, while forcing 14.5 turnovers per game and giving up fewer than 10. Against a Rams team 8-1 in games decided by six points or less, that likely will be needed should the Broncos want their first five-game league winning streak since 2010-11, when they were in the WAC.
"Down the stretch, we've been getting stops. That's all it's come down to," Marks said. "? This year, I think that's the biggest step we've made."
