BOISE, Idaho - A few more wins like this, and they won't just be talking football at Boise State.

BYU's Trent Plaisted (44) dunks the ball during the first half of a college basketball against Boise State at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Troy Maben)

Matt Nelson made all seven of his shots and scored 18 points, Reggie Larry scored 19, and Boise State rallied from 11 down at halftime to stun No. 20 BYU 73-70 on Saturday night.

The Broncos first win over a ranked opponent in nearly three years was thanks to an inspired second half and Nelson's gritty play on the inside. Boise State won for the eighth time in its last nine, but it wasn't easy, watching BYU score eight of the final 11 points to make the Broncos sweat.

Nelson, who transferred to Boise State from Eastern Washington, outplayed BYU center Trent Plaisted and bounced back from scoring just two points last Saturday at Albany. Nelson also had 11 rebounds.

Lee Cummard led the Cougars with 26, but stumbled in traffic and saw his desperation 3-pointer as the clock expired fall well short. BYU (10-3) lost on the road for the first time this season and likely will fall out of the Top 25. Its previous two losses were on a neutral court — to No. 1 North Carolina and to No. 7 Michigan State — and its previous road games were easy routs at Portland and Long Beach State.

Boise State trailed 38-27 at halftime, thanks to a 15-1 BYU run late in the first half, but the Broncos took control midway through the second half, and held on at the end.

Nelson slid through two Cougars' to tip in Tyler Tiedeman's miss with 4 minutes left to give Boise State a 66-62 lead and Larry's 15-footer moments later pushed the advantage to six, even inspiring Boise State coach Greg Graham to flail his arms, imploring the crowd to recognize the effort of his team.

BYU didn't go down without a final charge. Sam Burgess' 3-pointer and Cummard's layup off a turnover cut the deficit to 70-67 with 1:57 left.

After a Boise State miss, Jimmer Fredette rimmed out a 3, but Cummard was fouled on the rebound and made both free throws. Larry then swooped through the lane to tip-in a miss and give the Broncos a 72-69 lead with 34 seconds left.

Plaisted was fouled with 19 seconds left, but made only one of two. Tiedeman missed the front-end of a 1-and-1 with 16 seconds left, giving BYU a chance to tie or win, but Plaisted's 8-footer was short and Larry grabbed the rebound. He was fouled and split his free throws, giving BYU a final opportunity, but Cummard couldn't get a clean shot away, slipping to the court and setting off a wild celebration.

Boise State's last victory over a ranked team was over Nevada in the 2005 WAC tournament. Matt Bauscher added 11 for the Broncos.

Plaisted was held five points under his season average, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds. Burgess and Fredette added 11 each, but BYU was just 8-of-27 from 3-point range.