The floor of Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose. The San Jose State Spartans hosted Cal State East Bay in an exhibition game on Sat Nov 4, 2023 (file photo from Sports Illustrated)

Saturday, November 4th, 2023

By Troy Ewers 

San Jose, CA – In the Event Center at San Jose State University it’s the SJSU Spartans against Cal State East Bay in an exhibition game and these two teams are ready to showcase their skills before this long basketball season. The Spartans won it 77-61 defeating visiting CSU East Bay at Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose.

The first half started off with CSU East Bay taking over the momentum of the half. Forward Grady Lewis led East Bay in points with eight and his eight points were a major part of what kept the momentum up. For San Jose State they played a good game on the perimeter, but the post offense was being clamped on by this East Bay defense.

When William Humer got in the game the post offense picked up and he led the Spartans in points with seven in the first half. San Jose State’s offense really turned on when free throws gave them a rally and the Spartans went on a 9-0 run for the last 2:13 of the half and when the first half ended 31-27 SJSU Spartans with a lot of energy radiating from the offense. 

The Spartans continued running off their momentum from the first half by taking it straight to CSU East Bay as the second half started. East Bay began using a tap defense that seemed like it was going to slow the Spartans down, but it didn’t.

Even with the pressure SJSU was running with the lead, holding down a 20 point lead halfway through the second half. The offense here was led by MJ Amey Jr. who whether it was at the free throw line or the three point line, he found ways to score (15 points).

The second half pressure kicked up for East Bay with a 9-0 run at one point that lasted a minute, but the Spartans were still fighting them off. The final three minutes of the game was a tad sloppy for the Spartans, but wasn’t sloppy enough to detour the lead they had. Latrell Davis, who only had three points in the first half, went crazy in the second half, getting to the line to keep SJSU up (13 points).

The final buzzer sounded and the final score was 77-61 San Jose State and this exhibition game was great practice for what the Spartans have ahead. The three standout stars for SJSU were MJ Amey Jr., William Humer, and Latrell Davis

Next game for SJSU is their season opener against UC Irvine on November 7th and it will be a home game for the Spartans.