Photo credit: @SJSUMBB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans have only won three games under the new regime of head coach Jean Prioleau, and then they carried out a scheduled meeting on Valentine’s Day with the rival Fresno State Bulldogs at the Event Center Wednesday night.

Prior to the rivalry matchup, the Spartans were the bottom feeders of the Mountain West with a 3-12 (0-12 MW) record, while the Bulldogs rested comfortably with a 17-8 (7-5 MW) record.

The Spartans fell behind early, trailing the Bulldogs 11-3 in the first four-plus minutes of the first half. Ryan Welage ended the Spartans’ scoreless drought with a jumper at the 15:44 mark of the first.

Just when you thought the Spartans were done, Welage stole the show with a 3-pointer and a jumper. Isaiah Nichols hit a 3 of his own to tie the game at 11 apiece at the 13:31 mark. Oumar Barry made a layup to put the Spartans up 13-11 just 63 seconds later.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 13 apiece on New Williams’ jumper at the 12:19 mark, but Jalen James and Keith Fisher quickly responded for the Spartans, who took a 18-13 lead at the 11:23 mark.

The Spartan defense falted for a little bit. Both the Spartans and Bulldogs exchanged shots and leads up until SJSU went on a 6-0 run, thanks to Fisher, James and Jaycee Hillsman. Bulldogs’ Terrell Carter ended the Spartans’ run with a layup with 6:34 left in the first.

The Spartans held a comfortable 10-point lead after Nai Carlisle hit a 3 with 6:13 left.

The Bulldogs started getting feisty though. Sam Bittner hit not only one, but two 3s. Deshon Taylor followed with a jumper and Terrell Carter II added a layup to tie the game at 29 apiece with 3:08 left.

The Bulldogs were back on top with a 30-29 lead as Carter II made one of two free throws. Bittner made a layup to put the Bulldogs ahead 32-29 just 42 seconds later.

The Spartans made it a one-point game when James made a layup with 1:46 left. Then, there was a 30-second timeout, which sort of helped the Spartans since a Bulldog forward spent nearly 30 seconds finding an open Bulldog player.

It was a close game as the Spartans trailed the Bulldogs by just one point, 32-31, at the half. SJSU’s halftime stats: 11-26 FG-FGA (total), 5-9 FG-FGA (3-ptr), 4-8 FT-FTA, 3 offensive rebounds, 16 defensive rebounds, 19 total rebounds, 9 PF, 31 TP, 5 A, 6 TO, 2 Blks, 2 Stls, 100 Mins.

The second half opened up in an up and down manner as both teams exchanged shots with each other. Jaron Hopkins got the Bulldogs rolling with a dunk and a layup, Welage made a layup of his own, Bryson Williams made a layup and one of two free throws, Welage hit a 3 and then Fresno State went on a 7-0 run before James was assessed a flagrant foul.

The Bulldogs poured in the points, mainly off shots made by Taylor, Ray Bowles and Jaron Hopkins, taking a 58-39 lead over the Spartans at the 11-minute mark of the second. The Spartans only had eight second half points during that time span.

The Spartans continued to suffer from scoring droughts, which proved that the close score in the first half was pretty much just a fluke.

The Spartans lost to the Bulldogs 77-57 at home. SJSU’s final stats: 22-52 FG-FGA (total), 7-18 FG-FGA (3-ptr), 6-13 FT-FTA, 7 offensive rebounds, 26 defensive rebounds, 33 total rebounds, 16 PF. 57 TP, 12 A, 13 TO, 2 Blks, 5 Stls.

Notes 
Spartans’ starting lineup: Keith Fisher, Noah Baumann, Jalen James, Ryan Welage and Ashtin Chastain.

Bulldogs’ starting lineup: Jaron Hopkins, Bryson Williams, Sam Bittner, Deshon Taylor and Ray Bowles.

Up Next
The Spartans head out for a critical road trip, starting with the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, February 17 at 1:00 pm PT.