Photo credit: @SJSUMBB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball was looking to snap a six-game losing skid, but the Utah State Aggies were a tough customer in Wednesday night’s conference matchup inside the Event Center.

Spartans head coach Jean Prioleau went with a starting lineup consisting of Michael Steadman, Brae Ivey, Zach Chappell, Oumar Barry, and Noah Baumann.

The Spartans won the tip and got off to a fast start, thanks to Baumann. Baumann hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring. Chappell followed up with a 3 on the fastbreak. It was 6-0 at the 18:31 mark. Baumann proceeded to pour in the points with three consecutive free throws. SJSU was in the driver’s seat 9-5 at the 16:10 mark.

Fast forward to the 12:03 mark when the Spartans expanded their lead to 24-9. Baumann was on fire with 18 points on 5-for-5 3-point shooting around that time. Yet, USU gave SJSU a hard time with a sudden increase in points, including 3s from Sam Merrill, Brock Miller, and Diogo Brito.

The Spartans weren’t ready to suffer defeat to close out the first. Seneca Knight joined the 3-point party with a 3 to put the Spartans ahead by 10, 27-17, with 9:47 left.

The Aggies heated up at the right time with more 3s, layups, and free throws, but the Spartans cooled off for the most part as the clock winded down. Steadman sank a layup in the paint and Baumann hit a 3 to pull the Spartans within six, 41-35, with 48 seconds left. SJSU shrugged off to the locker room, trailing 41-35 at halftime.

The second half was basically a back-and-forth affair between the two teams. Brito made a pair of free throws to put the Aggies up 43-35 at the 19:28 mark. The Spartans responded with back-to-back 3s from Baumann and Chappell to pull within two, 43-41, at the 16:21 mark. However, Brito hit a 3 to help the Aggies to a 46-41 lead just 27 seconds later. Still, it was anyone’s game.

The Spartans hung tough as a comeback was possible after a 63-49 deficit at the under-eight timeout. SJSU tied their season-high in 3s with ten 3s.

Baumann hit a 3 and knocked down a jumper to bring the Spartans within fifteen, 78-63, with 1:13 left. But the Aggies responded with Tauriawn Knight’s 3 to put the game out of reach for the Spartans 81-63 at the final timeout with 29.9 seconds left.

The Spartans dropped their seventh straight game in a 81-63 loss to the Aggies. With the loss, SJSU falls to 3-13, 0-4 Mountain West. With the win, USU rises to 13-5, 3-2 Mountain West.

SJSU heads to Paradise, Nev. to take on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Saturday at 4:30 pm PT.