Unbreakable Culture, Unbelievable Finish: Ian Martinez Lifts Utah State in Wild Comeback vs. Boise State

In one of the most electric college basketball moments of the season, Utah State senior Ian Martinez hit a dramatic four-point play with 7.3 seconds left to lift the No. 25 Aggies to an 81–79 win over Mountain West rival Boise State. With the game — and perhaps their top-25 ranking — hanging in the balance, Martinez’s improbable shot capped off a raucous night inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and underscored a powerful narrative: Utah State just refuses to lose.

The win extended Utah State’s record to 16–1 (6–0 in conference), maintaining one of the best starts in program history and solidifying their status as the hottest team in the Mountain West under first-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun.

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The Shot That Shook the Spectrum

Trailing 79–77 after a late Boise State three, Utah State set up a sideline out-of-bounds play with under 10 seconds remaining. Drake Allen delivered a precise inbound pass to Martinez, who used a well-timed screen from Karson Templin to free himself. Martinez caught, shot, got fouled — and then watched as the ball kissed the backboard, circled the rim seemingly five times, and finally dropped through.

“I was just on the ground hoping it would go in,” said Martinez, who had 18 points on the night, including 5-of-7 from deep.

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“That last shot was crazy.”

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What’s crazier? The Aggies were just 9-for-22 from the free-throw line at that point. Martinez calmly sank the and-one to give USU the lead, and a Boise State heave at the buzzer came up short.

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A Culture of Grit and Late-Game Execution

Saturday night marked the third time this season that Utah State overcame a double-digit deficit in conference play. Boise State began the second half on a 9–0 run and led by as many as 13, but USU responded with poise and perimeter precision — shooting 7-of-8 from three in the second half and a sizzling 80 percent from the field after intermission.

“I think it’s just what Utah State does,” Martinez said.

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“It doesn’t matter who’s coaching or playing. It’s part of the culture. We’re just tough and we’ll do whatever it takes.”

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That toughness has roots deeper than this season. Despite being on their third coach in three years, the Aggies have cultivated a resilient identity — one that continues to show up in high-pressure moments. Under Calhoun, that ethos hasn’t just survived — it’s thriving.

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Full Team Effort

While Martinez stole the headlines, the win was a collective masterpiece. Five Aggies scored in double figures: Deyton Albury (14), Drake Allen (13), Dexter Akanno (12), and Mason Falslev (10) all made timely contributions. Falslev also added five boards and four assists, while Allen chipped in four dimes of his own.

Calhoun was quick to deflect praise from the final shot to the play that made it possible.

“Everybody’s going to talk about Ian’s shot, but don’t forget the pass from Drake and the screen from KT,” Calhoun said.

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“This is a team in every sense. We’re going to look back at this game as one of those really big moments.”

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The Aggie bench outscored Boise’s reserves 33–27 and committed a season-low six turnovers — critical in a game that featured 10 lead changes and seven ties.

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Boise State Brings the Fight

To their credit, the Broncos were tremendous. Led by preseason Mountain West Player of the Year Tyson Degenhart (22 points), Boise shot 52.9 percent from the field — the highest percentage allowed by USU all season — and hit 14-of-26 threes (53.8%). Alvaro Cardenas added 15 points and eight assists, including a huge three that briefly put the Broncos back in front with 12 seconds left. Javan Buchanan and Andrew Meadow also finished in double digits.

“We did a great job attacking that zone, and they did a great job attacking us,” Boise head coach Leon Rice said. “Our defense had to be a little better. They shot 80 percent in the second half. Whatever defense we tried, they solved it.”

Despite losing the game, the Broncos won the rebound battle 30–24 and held the edge on offensive boards. Still, it wasn’t enough to stop the surging Aggies from grabbing a signature win in front of 10,270 roaring fans.

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The Numbers Behind the Madness

• Utah State’s 16–1 start ties for the third-best in program history, behind only the 2008–09 (24–1) and 2003–04 (20–1) teams.
• USU shot 60.1% from the field, their second-best outing of the year and ninth time shooting 50% or better.
• They improved to 79–25 all-time when ranked in the AP Top 25.
• The Aggies have now won six straight games, despite shooting a season-low 45.5% from the free-throw line and recording zero steals for the first time all year.
• Utah State is now 23–4 at home against Boise State in the all-time series (39–21 overall).

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What’s Next

The Aggies travel to UNLV on Wednesday for a late-night matchup against a Rebels team reeling from a blowout loss to Colorado State. With two of their big men sidelined (Isaac Johnson, illness; Isaac Davis, concussion protocol), USU continues to adapt — and win — with whoever’s available.

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Final Thoughts: More Than Just a Shot

This wasn’t just about one shot. It was about a program that’s found ways to defy expectation — through coaching changes, personnel absences, and in-game adversity. Martinez’s last-second heroics will be remembered for years inside the Spectrum, but it’s the team-first culture, tough-minded comebacks, and unwavering belief that define this 2023–24 Utah State squad.

As Calhoun said,

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“We just made one more play than them.”

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Sometimes, one play is all it takes to turn a great season into a magical one.