Boise State’s Degenhart Hits 2,000 Points, Buchanan Drops 27 in Epic Win Over Butler!

In a high-octane second-round clash of the College Basketball Crown, Boise State basketball stormed past the Butler Bulldogs 100-93 in Las Vegas. But this was no ordinary win, this was the night Tyson Degenhart etched his name into legend, and Javan Buchanan rose like a phoenix to seize the spotlight.

Highlights from Boise State’s 100-93 win over Butler in the College Basketball Crown.

First Half: Degenhart Reaches the Summit, Broncos Find Their Rhythm

The battle began with tension in the air—two programs on the fringe of postseason redemption, both hungry, both desperate to keep the dream alive. But early in the first half, the energy inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena shifted. A single bucket, seemingly just two points, ignited the Boise State sideline like a spark in a powder keg.

With that shot, Tyson Degenhart became the first player in Boise State history to eclipse 2,000 career points.

He finished the game with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, while adding 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Each bucket was another stroke on the mural of a career that has come to define this era of Bronco basketball.

Second Half: Javan Buchanan Unleashes His Inner Supernova

But the true explosion came in the second act. Off the bench, Javan Buchanan, #22, was a man possessed. He torched the Bulldogs for 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting, displaying an elite mix of speed, confidence, and precision that kept Butler’s defense spinning in circles.

The junior guard didn’t just fill the stat sheet, he changed the tone of the game. Buchanan's bursts to the rim, pull-up jumpers, and three steals turned defense into offense, and chaos into control.

His energy wasn’t just complementary to Degenhart’s steady dominance—it was catalytic.

Turning Point: Pressure Turned to Power in the Final Minutes

Boise State entered halftime up 48-38, but Butler kept biting back, refusing to fold behind Finley Bizjack’s 30-point eruption. With each passing minute, the duel intensified. Butler would pull within a few possessions, only for the Broncos to respond with a crushing run.

The Broncos’ 60.3% field goal shooting, coupled with a 45.8% clip from three, gave them the firepower they needed to withstand Butler’s sharpshooting night. Defensively, Boise State forced 7 turnovers and capitalized for 17 points off those miscues, showcasing their transition execution.

MVP of the Night: The Twin Flames of Degenhart and Buchanan

There were no singular heroes in this epic—there were two. Degenhart stood as the unshakable pillar, the heart of this squad, while Buchanan played the role of electrifying finisher. Together, they combined for 48 of the team’s 100 points, a twin-pronged strike that Butler simply couldn’t answer.

Tyson Degenhart: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST

Javan Buchanan: 27 PTS, 3 STL, 11-13 FG

Their synergy and their contrast, was poetry in motion. One the calm conqueror, the other a lightning storm unleashed.

What It Means: Legacy Cemented, Future Ignited

Boise State improves to 26-10, and now marches forward in the College Basketball Crown with new life and renewed purpose. For Degenhart, this was a chapter-defining moment. For Buchanan, it may have been the prologue to his next arc, his breakout as the next Boise State star.

This wasn't just a win. It was a coronation and a torch pass, all in one game.