Coach Leon Rice: I’ll Swim the Boise River for Fans

Fortunately for Boise State basketball coach Leon Rice, Taco Bell Arena holds 12,000 and only 7,558 turned out for Boise States conference opener against Colorado State.

Before the game Rice said if the fans filled the arena he'd swim across the Boise river. Rice still says if fans sellout the arena he'll wade across a shallow part of the river because he doesn't want to get swept away. He is the first Boise State coach since Pokey Allen to challenge fans to turn out. Allen ended up riding a horse down Broadway in a snowstorm.

While last nights crowd wasn't enough for Rice to find his waders they made enough noise to help the Broncos beat Colorado State 93-71. It was still any ones game with 6:07 to play when Rice slapped his hand to the court in frustration and was slapped back with a technical foul. Boise State responded with a 16-4 run including 10 points from Chandler Hutchison who sat out much of the night in foul trouble but still scored 25 total.

BSU built a 24 point lead and improved to 11-2 overall. Alex Hobbs and Marcus Dickinson came off the bench and each scored 16 points and the BSU depth proved way too much for the Rams. Next up for the Broncos is UNLV Saturday in Las Vegas, 9 p.m. Boise tip off. ,