Broncos Set Program Records in 79-Point Season Opener

Boise State opened the 2026-27 basketball season by dismantling West Coast Baptist, 132-53, at ExtraMile Arena on Wednesday night.

The victory marked a new standard for the program, with the Broncos establishing single-game records for points, field goals made, rebounds, and margin of victory.

The team’s offensive efficiency was the primary driver of the result. Boise State connected on 51 of 90 field goal attempts, a 56.7% clip that surpassed the previous record of 45 made by the team against Montana in 2007. The Broncos also grabbed 67 boards, outrebouncing the Eagles 67-8 in the first half alone before maintaining that dominance through the final buzzer.

Scoring was spread across the roster, with eight players finishing in double digits. Lithuania native Dovydas Butka led the charge with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, nine rebounds, and two assists. North Dakota State transfer Damari Wheeler-Thomas contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Bhan Buom added 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

Jerquarius Stanback recorded his third career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Junior guard Julian Bowie scored 14 points on six field goal attempts. Spencer Ahrens and Aginaldo Neto each scored 10 points, while fifth-year Rayzhon Bergersen posted a career-high 11 points from the bench.

Head coach Leon Rice noted the team’s effort despite the large lead. "I was really proud of our guys' approach," Rice said. "Is there a ton of things that we can still get better at? Absolutely, and these guys know it, but I think we're seeing some growth."

The Eagles struggled to find rhythm against Boise State’s defense. West Coast Baptist managed only seven field goals in the first half, shooting 19% from three-point range. The Broncos forced 12 turnovers in that initial period. The lead stood at 40 points at the half, with Boise State holding a 69-26 advantage.

The margin grew further in the second half. With 19 seconds remaining in regulation, the Broncos led by 80 points. Wheeler-Thomas credited the team’s consistency during stops. "It was definitely in the timeouts," he said. "We kept saying, 'just keep going, stay tight and keep doing us,' and that's what we did."

Stanback viewed the performance as valuable preparation for upcoming opponents. "I think that can help us a lot," Stanback said regarding the minutes given to bench players. "Especially with guys getting more experience on the court, I feel like that can help us a lot."

The Broncos return to action on Sunday, Nov. 8, hosting Butler at 12:00 p.m.