No. 2 Dion Sims, junior tight end: Sims became junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell’s favorite target, hauling in seven passes for 65 yards. Sims also contributed key blocks and provided Maxwell with a receiver to dump the ball off to when he was under pressure defense.

No. 3 Darqueze Dennard, junior cornerback: Dennard tied for third on the team in tackles with five while also breaking up three passes. However, Dennard’s biggest contribution came on a Boise State fourth-and-two in which the junior cornerback broke up a quick pass to force a turnover on downs and give the Spartans the ball with 6:32 left in the game.

Key play:
Facing a third-and-six at Boise State’s 25 with 9:25 left in the game and trailing 13-10, junior quarterback Andrew Maxwell lined up in the shotgun with Sims to his right. Bell picked up a blitzing backside linebacker to allow Maxwell time to find a leaping Sims along the right sideline for an 18-yard gain that set the Spartans up for the eventual game-winning score.

Key stat: 44 carries
Bell topped a personal record for most carries in a game with 44 as he took over the Spartan offense for 210 rushing yards and two scores. The mark was the most rushing attempts in a game since Javon Ringer had 44 carries in a game against Indiana in 2008.

Quick facts

1. After starting out 11-for-22 with three interceptions in the first half, Maxwell found his groove, going 11-for-16 with 152 yards and no interceptions for the rest of the night.

2. The Spartans became the first team to hold Boise State without an offensive touchdown since Washington State in 1997.

3. Since 2010, MSU now is 9-1 in games decided by fewer than 10 points.

Quote of the night

“(MSU) is probably the best front seven that I have played against in my 23rd start. They were pretty good. They did a lot of different things we were used to, but they are very talented.”

Boise State senior guard Joe Kellogg