Boise State Dominates Bismarck State 104-37 in Final Exhibition

Boise State basketball dominated Bismarck State 104-37 on Thursday, a victory defined less by the final score and more by the fact that 11 of the 12 Broncos who played scored at least six points. The game served as a final exhibition tune-up before the regular season begins Wednesday against West Coast Baptist at ExtraMile Arena.

This performance showed the team was improving. While their first game against Idaho highlighted how new pieces fit together and the second against Washington showcased offensive power, this third outing demonstrated a roster depth that coach Leon Rice believes could be a defining strength of the season. The Broncos’ offensive efficiency has been consistent across the preseason; as reported by bvmsports.com, Boise State scored 191 points across its first two exhibitions and shot at least 50% in both.

A Bench That Can Run Opponents Out of the Gym

The distribution of scoring on Thursday was remarkably flat, meaning the offense didn’t rely on a single superstar to carry the load. Leading scorer Bhan Buom finished with 14 points, followed by Jikany Deang with 13 and Julian Bowie with 11. Because the Broncos went so deep into their rotation, no starter played more than 20 minutes. Only two bench players—Pearson Carmichael and Rayzohn Bergersen—surpassed that mark.

For the players at the bottom of the depth chart, the game was an audition. Junior forward Ethan Lathan, who had played only 10 combined minutes over his first two seasons in Boise, led the team with nine rebounds and added eight points. Lathan noted that the team’s versatility allows them to play “1-12,” citing a mix of shooting and blocking bigs that can overwhelm opponents with athleticism alone.

The growth of these reserve players hasn’t been accidental. Coach Leon Rice explained that injuries and absences during the fall forced these athletes to take more reps and quality minutes, which he hopes will pay dividends during the regular season.

“It’s got to be, it’s really got to be,” Rice said when asked if depth can be a strength of this team. “That’s why this fall, with some guys out, some injuries there’s some silver lining to it. It really forced those guys to get a lot of reps and get a lot of quality minutes.”

The Impact of Versatile Bigs

One of the most significant developments from the game was the performance of Jikany Deang. A 6-foot, 9-inch transfer from NJCAA North Dakota State College of Science, Deang had seen almost no action in the previous exhibitions, playing zero minutes against Idaho and only two against Washington. On Thursday, he played 13 minutes and hit three 3-pointers.

Deang’s ability to stretch the floor as a big man is a specific skill he has cultivated through hours of practice, and he noted that the coaching staff has encouraged him to “let it fly” when he enters the game. This versatility aligns with the broader team trends reported by bvmsports.com, which highlighted Dovydas Butka recording back-to-back double-doubles in the previous two exhibitions (18 points/10 rebounds against Idaho and 16 points/11 rebounds against Washington).

The stakes for these exhibition games are high for the non-starters. Lathan emphasized that for “lower minute guys,” every single rep must be sharp to earn a spot in the rotation.

A New Era in the Pac-12

The timing of this roster expansion is critical. Boise State will begin its first season in the Pac-12 in 2026-27 after spending 15 years in the Mountain West.

While the victory over Bismarck State—which was that school’s first-ever game against a Division I opponent—was lopsided, the internal competition remains fierce. Rice stated that the starting lineup and rotation roles have not been finalized and could change as the season progresses.

The Broncos have a strong historical foundation to build upon; bvmsports.com notes that Boise State has won at least 20 games in 13 of Leon Rice’s 16 full seasons. The current high-scoring offense and the emergence of depth pieces suggest the team is attempting to maintain that standard while stepping up in competition.

Boise State opens its regular season this Wednesday against West Coast Baptist.