Boise State Drops in NCAA NET Rankings After Overtime Loss to UNLV

The Broncos squandered a big lead against the Rebels, hurting their NCAA Tournament hopes.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Boise State men's basketball team followed up an impressive road victory over New Mexico with a home collapse against UNLV on Friday. The Broncos blew a 23-point first-half lead and a 17-point advantage with eight minutes left, ultimately falling 86-83 in overtime to the Rebels. The loss dropped Boise State to No. 60 in the NCAA NET Rankings, down from No. 54 the previous week.

Why it matters

Boise State's late-game meltdown against UNLV is a significant setback in the Broncos' quest to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The loss to the Rebels, who had previously swept the season series, will hurt Boise State's NCAA Tournament resume, which already includes a 2-5 record in Quad 1 games.

The details

After leading by as many as 23 points in the first half, Boise State saw its advantage evaporate as UNLV stormed back to force overtime and ultimately win the game. The Broncos are now 15-10 overall and 7-7 in Mountain West Conference play, putting their NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy.

  • Boise State led UNLV by 23 points in the first half on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The Broncos held a 17-point lead with just over 8 minutes remaining in regulation on February 14, 2026.
  • UNLV came back to force overtime and defeat Boise State 86-83 on February 14, 2026.

The players

Boise State

The Boise State men's basketball team, which is 15-10 overall and 7-7 in Mountain West Conference play.

UNLV

The UNLV Rebels, who defeated Boise State 86-83 in overtime on February 14, 2026.

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The takeaway

Boise State's late-game collapse against UNLV is a significant blow to the Broncos' NCAA Tournament hopes, as the loss dropped them to No. 60 in the NCAA NET Rankings. The Broncos will need to regroup and string together some key wins in their remaining games to improve their resume and secure an at-large bid.