San Jose State Spartans guard Alvaro Cardenas (13) drives on the Montana Grizzlies forward (21) Laolu Oke at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula Montana on Sat Dec 2023 (SJSU Spartans photo)

Saturday, December 2nd, 2023

By Troy Ewers

The San José State Spartans are looking for their fourth win in five games when they take on Montana on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans were on a three-game winning streak prior to losing to Cal Poly in overtime on Wednesday night. Following the game, the Spartans will head to North Dakota State for the final contest of a three-game road trip. 

The first half for the Spartans was a rare form for them this season where they were playing from behind. Going 9-25 from the field, it looked like nothing went right offensively for the Spartans and Montana took full advantage. Montana hauled 22 rebounds and went 48% from the field with Money Williams scoring 16 points in the first half for Montana. The half ended 36-24 Montana with the lead. 

The second half was a bigger runaway for Montana as at one point in the half the Grizzlies were up 60-37. The Spartans tried to put their foot on the gas, but the potholes Montana set up early slowed San Jose State down. 52% from the field, but that didn’t matter as Montana forced nine turnovers and even though Montana only scored seven points off those turnovers, it was enough to halt any progress SJSU tried to create.

Even the guys that are usual scorers for the Spartans were quiet. Trey Anderson, Tibet Gorener, and MJ Amey Jr. combined for 10 points this game and even Alvaro Cardenas’s nine points was just a piece of floss in an avalanche. The final score ended up being 75-58 Montana. 

Not the way the Spartans wanted to rebound after the last loss, but the result leaves them to fall to 5-4. The next game for San Jose State will be against North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota, Monday, December 4th.