Tag: San Jose State Spartans

Da Silva’s return from finals helps Cardinal rout SJSU 78-58

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photo from gostanford.com: Oscar da Silva’s 25 points lead Stanford over San Jose State.

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, December 14, 2019

After taking a two-week break from basketball to address final exams, Oscar da Silva was more than ready to return to the hardwood.

Da Silva racked up 25 points and eight rebounds while leading Stanford past San Jose State 78-58 in a non-conference contest at SJSU. Along with an 11 of 17 shooting night, da Silva scored the Cardinal’s first nine points of the second half.

The Cardinal (9-1) continued its hot start, their best since 2011. Stanford has held all 10 of its opponents to under 70 points this season, the first time the Cardinal has accomplished this feat since Dec. 28, 2010 to Jan. 29, 2011.

Nine of the Cardinal’s wins have been by double-digits; last season, Stanford had 10 double-digit wins overall.

Tyrell Tyler scored 11 points, to go with eight rebounds and five assists, and Isaac White added 12 points off the bench.

Stanford outscored the Spartans 52-12 in the paint. And, despite committing 19 turnovers, the Cardinal enjoyed a 21-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Coming up, the Cardinal hosts San Francisco on Tuesday at Maples Pavilion. Next Saturday, Stanford faces San Diego as part of the Al Attles Classic at Chase Center.

San Jose State loses to Stanford 78-58

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Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State men’s basketball team looked to snap a five-game losing skid with a win over the Stanford Cardinal at the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Saturday evening.

For the Spartans, that was easier said than done as the Cardinal entered the non-conference contest with just one loss, a one-point loss to the #18 Butler Bulldogs 79-78 on November 26, 2019.

The Spartans’ starters were Brae Ivey, Omari Moore, Christian Anigwe, Seneca Knight and Sam Japhet-Mathias.

The Spartans’ Brew and Vine event was in full swing. Fans enjoyed beer and wine tastings. The Battle of the Bay tip-off was underway. Stanford won its first ever game against SJSU 78-73 on December 18, 2018.

Stanford scored the first six points, but SJSU scored the next four points early in the first half. Omari Moore knocked down the Spartans’ first bucket of the evening to cut their deficit to 6-2. The score was 6-4 Stanford at the first media timeout.

Ralph Agee made a big-time block and Seneca Knight moved to get past defenders to make his shots, but the Cardinal held a 10-7 advantage at 13:03. Stanford led 13-9 at the second media timeout. Then, Stanford extended its lead to 19-9 at the under-eight timeout.

SJSU got the looks, but needed shots to fall. Richard Washington ended the Spartans’ scoring drought with a score. The Spartans trailed 32-19 at the halftime break.

SJSU had a lot of work to do in the second half.

Oscar da Silva added a lot of points from the get-go and the Cardinal defense played very well in the opening minutes. The Spartans had some shots like Seneca Knight’s fastbreak layup and two-handed jam as well as Brae Ivey’s fastbreak three-pointers, but they trailed 41-29 at the first media timeout.

Zach Chappell made a pair of fastbreak free throws to cut the deficit to 46-33. The Spartans trailed 46-33 at the second media timeout.

Seneca Knight knocked down a jumper with 9:50 left, but the Spartans trailed 53-35 at the third media timeout. The Spartans’ shooting slowed down in the closing minutes, but Caleb Simmons and Craig LeCesne made their respective layups. LeCesne added a fastbreak free throw. After that, Simmons hit a three, which going the crowd going, but it was too little, too late.

SJSU took their final timeout. The clock winded down and Trey Smith had the last score, a jumper, with three seconds left to play, but the Cardinal won 78-58.

With the win, Stanford improved to 9-1, 0-0 Pac-12. With the loss, SJSU fell to 3-8, 0-2 Mountain West.

The Spartans take on the Santa Clara Broncos at the Leavey Center on Wednesday, December 18 at 7 pm PST.

San Jose State hosts Stanford on Saturday for Brew and Vine

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State men’s basketball team will play host to a South Bay standoff against Stanford at 4 PM on Saturday. The game will be broadcasted on the CBS Sports Network.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s game.

BREW AND VINE
The Spartans will have a Brew and Vine beer and wine tasting event on Saturday as part of the Stanford game. Admission is $30 and includes a ticket to both games of the men’s and women’s doubleheader on Saturday, access to the baseline Hardwood Lounge, a custom SJSU tasting glass, pours from a wide selection of breweries and vineyards plus food and snacks.

At the door, tickets to Brew and Vine must be purchased in addition to a game ticket. Save time and money and buy online.

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS (3-7, 0-2 MW)
PPG: 64.7 | FG%: 39.7 | 3FG%: 27.4 | FT%: 65.1

NOTES: The Spartans went 0-2 to open MW play last week, but the record doesn’t tell the story. SJSU battled the top two teams in the league, with Utah State pulling away late and San Deigo State needing a buzzer-beater three to down the Spartans. Seneca Knight is averaging a team-high 12.6 ppg while shooting 44.6% from the floor. Omari Moore has started three of the last four games and has emerged as SJSU’s top defensive guard.

STANFORD CARDINAL (8-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
PPG: 75.6 | FG%: 50.4 | 3FG%: 41.2 | FT%: 71.4

SERIES: SJSU trails, 13-39 (Tied, 9-9, in San Jose)

LAST: SJSU lost last year, 78-73, at Stanford

NOTES: Stanford opened the season with seven straight wins before falling, 68-67, to Butler at a Thanksgiving week tournament in Kansas City. The Cardinal are outscoring opponents by 17.9 points per game this year. Oscar da Silva is averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game, followed by Tyrell Terry’s 15.7 points per game.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network with Ed Cohen and Pete Gillen

STREAM: www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network

RADIO: Justin Allegri on the call through TuneIn.com and the TuneIn app. Search for “San Jose St. Basketball”.

HEARTBREAK AT SAN DIEGO STATE
SJSU suffered a heartbreaking loss at SDSU on Dec. 8. Up by a point with five seconds remaining, the Spartans saw the Aztecs’ Malachi Flynn hit a deep three-pointer at the buzzer for the win … Ralph Agee posted his first double-double for the Spartans with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench … SJSU held SDSU to just 31.7% shooting … SJSU matched a season-low with 11 turnovers.

SAN JOSE STATE STYMIES GRAMBLING STATE
Grambling State entered the game on Nov. 20 with the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense, averaging 114 points over its first three games … The Spartans held the Tigers 38 points under their average in an 83-76 win at the Provident Credit Union Event Center … Grambling State was 1-of-10 shooting on threes.

BALANCED EFFORT IN WIN OVER SIMPSON
The Spartans had 13 different players score in an 85-60 win over Simpson on Nov. 17 … Zach Chappell came off the bench to score a season-high 14 points, including a pair of threes … Seneca Knight was 6-of-8 shooting for 15 points … Craig LeCesne added 13 points in 19 minutes … Ralph Agee posted 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting … Harminder Dhaliwal made his collegiate debut and had two points and two rebounds in six minutes.

SAN JOSE STATE STUNS HOFSTRA IN SEASON OPENER
SJSU opened the 2019-20 season with a bang, defeating Hofstra on the road, 79-71, on Nov. 6 … Hofstra won 27 games last year, SJSU lost 27 games … In his Spartan debut, JC transfer and former Wake Forest guard, Richard Washington, posted a team-high 23 points off the bench on 8-of-13 shooting. He scored 12 of his 23 points in the final four minutes, including a stretch of three straight threes to put the game away … Craig LeCesne had his first career double-double with a career-high 19 points plus 11 rebounds … It was the Spartans’ first win in a road opener since 2010-11 when SJSU topped Eastern Washington, 67-60 … SJSU snapped a 21-game road losing streak dating back to 2017-18 … The Spartans won on the East Coast for the first time since 2001-02, when SJSU defeated Fairleigh Dickinson at the BCA Tournament hosted by NC State in Raleigh, N.C.

San Jose State football signs Brennan to 3-year contract extension

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Photo credit: @MWCConnection

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State and its football head coach Brent Brennan agreed to a three-year contract extension for Brennan to coach the Spartans through the 2024 season. Marie Tuite, the Spartans’ AD, made the announcement.

With Brennan in his third season as head coach, the 2019 Spartans were one of 13 NCAA Division I FBS teams to win four more games during the regular season compared to 2018 for a 5-7 overall record.

SJSU was named the Reveal Suits FWAA National Team of the Week for its 31-24 non-conference victory over Arkansas, the school’s first football triumph over a SEC member.

The Spartans added a 34-29 non-conference victory at Army West Point placing SJSU as just the 20th college football program all time at any level with football victories over the U.S. military service academies Air Force, Army and Navy.

SJSU concluded its 2019 season with a thrilling 17-16 comeback win over geographic and Mountain West rival Fresno State for the Valley Trophy.

“This extension comes at an important time as we continue to build a championship football program. Coach Brennan has done an exemplary job in moving the needle competitively, achieving numerous academic performances and leading a praiseworthy ‘Beyond Football’ program,” said Tuite.

“What is particularly important to me is this extension will provide consistent leadership for our football program and our student-athletes. The University is making a commitment to Coach Brennan. Equally important is Coach Brennan is making a commitment to San Jose State. It’s a ‘gold, white and blue ribbon day’ for our Spartan football program.”

“Coach Brennan is exactly the kind of coach we want here at San Jose State,” said University President Mary A. Papazian. “He is a true teacher, mentor, and role model for his student-athletes. We are delighted to have him here for years to come, leading these student-athletes and helping them develop as both players and as people.”

In his first two seasons as a head coach, SJSU football players earned 57 Mountain West academic awards, the most in any two-year period since joining the conference six years ago. SJSU players have participated collectively in more than 5,000 hours each year in its Beyond Football program that focuses on community service, campus engagement and personal professional development.

“I am so excited about this extension. I’m thankful for the hard work of Marie Tuite and President Papazian and their support and belief in what we are doing. This (extension) gives us the long term to continue building a championship program at San Jose State.”

“I believe we’ve made great strides over the first three years, especially this season. To be in a position knowing the leadership is going to be here, we know there is going to be consistency in our process and our message.”

“When I look around the country, the teams that are really successful have consistency in their coaching staff and leadership on campus. For our program and our players, it will be knowing what the expectations are day in and day out and continuing on a path of improvement and development.”

The 46-year old Brennan returned to SJSU on December 8, 2016, for his first head coaching opportunity after 16 seasons as a major college assistant coach at Cal Poly (2001-04), SJSU (2005-10) and Oregon State (2011-16). He began his college coaching career at Hawaii in 1998 as a graduate assistant and served in the same capacity at Washington in 1999 and Arizona in 2000.

Brennan is a second-generation Spartan. Steve Brennan, his father, was an end that lettered in football at SJSU in the 1967 season. Beth Brennan, his mother, was a Spartan song girl at SJSU.

San Jose State Spartans podcast with Ana Kieu: A similar men’s basketball team in terms of losses

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On the SJSU Spartans podcast with Ana:

1. Men’s basketball: SJSU dropped a thriller to San Diego State 59-57 on Sunday, Dec. 8.

2. Men’s basketball: SJSU returns home to host Stanford on Saturday, Dec. 14.

3. Women’s basketball: SJSU won conference opener 76-61 over Utah State on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

4. Women’s basketball: SJSU downed SDSU 84-67 on Saturday, Dec. 7.

5. Softball: SJSU signed four student-athletes for 2021.

Ana’s final thoughts…

Catch Ana on the SJSU Spartans podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

SJSU Sports Hall of Fame Basketball Player George Clark Dies at 89

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

George Clark, the first San Jose State men’s basketball player to finish a three-year career averaging in double-figure scoring and double-figure rebounding, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2019, at age 89 in Lincoln, California.

Born July 2, 1930, in Gibbons, Nebraska, the Clark family of seven migrated west to Oregon before settling in California during the Great Depression. A basketball, football and baseball letter-winner and one-time student body president at San Jose (Calif.) High School, George Clark originally enrolled at the University of Southern California, but transferred to San Jose State College where he flourished as the Spartans’ 6’6″ center.

In his three varsity seasons playing for coach Walt McPherson, San Jose State had a winning record each season, was nationally-ranked by the Associated Press for the last three weeks of the 1949-50 season, and appeared in a NCAA Tournament for the first time when the 1951 team lost to #11 Brigham Young University, 68-61, in a first-round (Sweet 16) game in Kansas City, Missouri.

A STAR & RECORD-SETTER
Mr. Clark was a second-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association award winner as a sophomore on the 1950 team that posted a record of 21-7, San Jose State’s third consecutive 20-win season; was named to an All-Independent team for his play in 1951; and was co-captain of the 1952 squad that finished with a 15-10 win-loss record.

“George did not like to lose. He had a fire in him. That’s why he was a good rebounder,” said Dean Giles, his teammate on the 1950 and 1951 San Jose State teams.

“He understood the game pretty well and he anticipated well. And, he was a good passing center. Offensively, we used to run ‘rubs.’ We ran everything off of a high post. It was ‘Kentucky-style’ basketball. George was an integral part of our offense.”

“He understood how to block out and retrieve the ball. He caused most centers a lot of trouble. He was a dominant center in our conference. I can’t think of a better one. George did a good job rebounding. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gotten as far we did.”

During his San Jose State career, Mr. Clark averaged 10.0 points a game in scoring and 11.4 rebounds a game in the 75 games he played. He and Coby Dietrick, who played for the 1969 through 1971 Spartans and then 13 seasons in the ABA and NBA, are the only Spartans to have double-figure career averages in points and rebounds.

“His trademark was the hook shot. There weren’t many who could shoot that shot. He could ‘hook’ it from the foul line in. He was a good teammate. I always enjoyed playing with George,” Giles said.

Mr. Clark remains the San Jose State record holder single-season record holder for most rebounds in a season (376 in 1952), rebound average in a season (16.4 per game in 1952), and rebound average in a career (11.4 per game). He set a single-game school record of 27 rebounds in a 51-49 win over the University of Oregon on January 3, 1952, which was broken five seasons later.

Clark’s college teammates included former San Jose State career scoring leader and Portland Trail Blazers’ general manager Stu Inman (1926-2007), six-time San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro end Billy Wilson (1927-2009), former University of Portland men’s basketball coach Jack Avina (1929-2018), and former Harlem Globetrotter Bobby Crowe. Mr. Clark played in New York’s Madison Square Garden, the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium as a Spartan.

“George had a leadership style about him. He was like a coach on the floor. He was a very competitive guy,” said San Jose State basketball alum and former Santa Clara University men’s basketball coach Carroll Williams, a teammate of Mr. Clark’s on the local Green Frog Market AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team back in the 1950’s. “He was a really good college player.

“We ran a lot of ‘Guard Around’ and ‘Forward Around.’ (In) ‘Guard Around,’ the forward would hit the post and back screen for the guard. Then, George would make the pass or take a hook (shot). In ‘Forward Around,’ the guard would hit the post and screen down for the forward to come around,” added Williams, who was a student teacher at San Jose High when Mr. Clark also served as the school’s boys’ basketball coach.

TEACHERS & BROADWAY MUSICALS
Mr. Clark graduated from San Jose State in 1953 as a physical education major. He would later earn a master’s degree in general administration from his alma mater in 1966.

Professionally, Mr. Clark was a high school teacher and administrator in Santa Clara, Monterey, Kings and Santa Cruz counties in Northern and Central California for 37 years. As a school administrator, he was invited to Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Columbia to share his experiences in the field of secondary education.

A fan of Broadway musicals, Mr. Clark remained connected to San Jose State long after his playing career. He founded the Santa Cruz chapter of the San Jose State University Alumni Association in 1985 and was the association’s president from 1995 through 1997. Enshrined in the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame, Mr. Clark was a long-time member of the Order of Sparta, a former athletes association that recommended Spartan greats for induction, and the Spartan Foundation, the fund-raising volunteers for San Jose State University Athletics.

“San Jose State lost a dear, cherished and loyal alum recently in George Clark. It was easy to recognize him as a former Spartan basketball player, because George took over the room, and he was one of the best to play here,” said San Jose State University director of athletics Marie Tuite.

“George meant so much more to San Jose State and to Spartan Athletics than just his playing contributions. He was active in alumni social activities, attended as many athletics events as possible, and always had a kind word, found the silver lining, and maintained a jovial, genuine and positive outlook on life.

“We join many others expressing condolences to Bonnie, his wife, and their children. George loved his Spartans and he left a lasting impression on many of us. He will be dearly missed by many.”

Mr. Clark is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bonnie (Dohemann) Clark; daughters Kristen Clark Cozad, Terry Clark Gilmete and her husband Silvestre, and Remy Clark Nutter and her husband Patrick; brother-in-law and wife, Gordon and Sharon Dohemann; five grandchildren; two great grandsons, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life for Mr. Clark will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to the San Jose State University Spartan Athletics Fund or the William Jessup University men’s basketball program.

Mr. Clark will be remembered and honored at San Jose State’s next home men’s basketball game, against Stanford University on Saturday, December 14 at 4:00 p.m.

SDSU remains undefeated with 59-57 win over SJSU

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Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB

By Ana Kieu

The San Jose State men’s basketball team had hoped to snap a 4-game losing skid at Viejas Arena against San Diego State on Sunday afternoon, but the Spartans’ hopes weren’t granted in the Mountain West contest.

SJSU’s starting five featured Brae Ivey, Omari Moore, Christian Anigwe, Seneca Knight and Sam Japhet-Mathias.

SDSU jumped out to a 7-2 lead at the first media timeout at the 15:18 mark of the first half. Though, neither team was off to the best of starts as the Spartans and Aztecs combined for just 7-of-24 from the floor at the 12-minute mark of the first.

Ralph Agee scored 5 points off the bench to provide a beautiful yet fiery spark for the Spartans with 9:52 left in the first. Then, Christian Anigwe hit a 3-pointer and Zach Chappell scored off the high glass with 6:08 left in the first.

Omari Moore made a move and delivered a 3 to cut the deficit to 10, Ralph Agee knocked down a triple to cut the deficit to 8 and SJSU scored 6 unanswered points to cut the deficit to 5 late in the first. But, despite the Spartans’ efforts, SJSU trailed 30-25 at the halftime break.

SJSU was off to a great start to open the second half. The Spartans scored back-to-back buckets and Ralph Agee had one of his best outings in a Spartan uniform with a season-high 12 points at the 15:46 mark of the second. Yet, SDSU led 39-31 at the first media timeout of the second.

Brae Ivey made a 3 from downtown to cut the deficit to 5 once again. SJSU trailed 41-36 at the 12:34 mark of the second. Ivey later buried a triple to keep the Spartans in the game with 8:55 left in the second.

Two perfect 3-point buckets from Seneca Knight and Christian Anigwe cut the deficit to 3 to trail 52-49 with 4:18 left in the second. SDSU led 54-49 at the final media timeout with 4 minutes left in the second. Knight hit a 3 to cut the deficit to 2 and Brae Ivey buried a triple to lift the Spartans to a 55-54 lead — their first lead of the game — with 1:29 left in the second. Knight scored a layup to extend the lead 57-54 with 1:03 left in the second.

But the Spartans’ contentedness was short-lived as the Aztecs took the lead 59-57 with 0:9 left on the clock. Malachi Flynn hit the game-winning 3 over three Spartan defenders. The Aztecs won 59-57.

With the win, SDSU remains undefeated with a 10-0, 2-0 MW record. With the loss, SJSU fell to 3-7, 0-2 MW.

The Spartans return home to host the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 pm PST.

San Jose State visits undefeated San Diego State on Sunday

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State men’s basketball team continues its opening week of Mountain West play with a visit to undefeated San Diego State on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s conference contest.

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS (3-6, 0-1 MW)
PPG: 65.6 | FG%: 39.8 | 3FG%: 27.0 | FT%: 65.2

NOTES: The Spartans trailed by just three at the half and kept it close until a late run by No. 25 Utah State in Wednesday’s 71-59 conference-opening loss. SJSU is 3-0 when shooting better than 45% on field goals and is 0-6 when shooting under 45%. After using the same starting lineup for the first six games of the season, Spartans head coach Jean Prioleau has used a different combo in each of the last three. Freshman guard Omari Moore has started twice in that stretch.

SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (9-0, 1-0 MW)
PPG: 77.0 | FG%: 47.1 | 3FG%: 40.1 | FT%: 71.9

SERIES: SJSU trails, 35-40 (8-26 in San Diego)

LAST: SJSU lost, 84-56, on 3/2/19 at SDSU

NOTES: SDSU has started a season 9-0 for the second time in program history. The Aztecs opened Mountain West play on Wednesday with a 79-57 win at Colorado State. Malachi Flynn, a Washington State transfer, had a game-high 23 points plus 7 assists. Flynn is sixth in the MW in points per game (16.9) and second in assists per game (5.4).

BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: Fox Sports SD with Steve Quis and Ros Gold-Onwude

STREAM: Foxsports.com/live

RADIO: Justin Allegri on the call through TuneIn.com and the TuneIn app. Search for “San Jose St. Basketball”.

AMAZING ANIGWE 
Sophomore Christian Anigwe has been an anchor for the Spartans in the middle this season. Anigwe ranks ninth in the MW in rebounds per game at 6.6 RPG. The 6-foot-9 big man is also seventh in the MW in blocked shots per game at 1.2 BPG. He has had a season-best three blocked shots vs. both Grambling and Oregon State.

SAN JOSE STATE STYMIES GRAMBLING STATE
Grambling State entered the game on Nov. 20 with the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense, averaging 114 points over its first three games. The Spartans held the Tigers 38 points under their average in an 83-76 win at the Provident Credit Union Event Center. Grambling State was 1-of-10 shooting on 3-pointers.

SAN JOSE STATE DOWNS SIMPSON
The Spartans had 13 different players score in an 85-60 win over Simpson on Nov. 17. Zach Chappell came off the bench to score a season-high 14 points, including a pair of 3s. Seneca Knight was 6-of-8 shooting for 15 points. Craig LeCesne added 13 points in 19 minutes. Ralph Agee posted 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. Harminder Dhaliwal made his collegiate debut and had 2 points and 2 rebounds in six minutes.

SAN JOSE STATE STUNS HOFSTRA IN SEASON OPENER
SJSU opened the 2019-20 season with a bang, defeating Hofstra on the road, 79-71, on Nov. 6. Hofstra won 27 games last year, SJSU lost 27 games. In his Spartan debut, JC transfer and former Wake Forest guard, Richard Washington, posted a team-high 23 points off the bench on 8-of-13 shooting. Washington scored 12 of his 23 points in the final four minutes, including a stretch of three straight 3s to put the game away. Craig LeCesne had his first career double-double with a career-high 19 points plus 11 rebounds. It was SJSU’s first win in a road opener since 2010-11 when the Spartans topped Eastern Washington, 67-60. The Spartans snapped a 21-game road losing streak dating back to 2017-18. SJSU won on the East Coast for the first time since 2001-02, when the Spartans defeated Fairleigh Dickinson at the BCA Tournament hosted by NC State in Raleigh, N.C.

RETURNING STARTERS
The Spartans return seven players who started at least one game a season ago. Seneca Knight is the most experienced, as the sophomore started 17 games, including the final 12, of his rookie season. Brae Ivey was just behind Knight, as the former junior college transfer started 16 games last season. Craig LeCesne and Zach Chappell both started 15 games last year. Christian Anigwe, Isaiah Nichols and Trey Smith each started one game.

SIX NEW PLAYERS
SJSU head coach Jean Prioleau will have the help of six newcomers on the roster in 2019-20. The Spartans have three new junior college transfers in Richard Washington (Tallahassee CC), Eduardo Lane (Marshalltown CC) and Ralph Agee (East LA College). Washington started his collegiate career at Wake Forest, where he played eight games as a freshman before an injury caused him to miss the entire 2017-18 season. Another Wake Forest transfer will join the Spartans on the floor this season, as center Samuel Japhet-Mathias will be eligible after a redshirt season last year. The former four-star recruit appeared in 17 games off the bench at Wake Forest as a freshman in 2016-17. He posted 6 points and 4 rebounds at No. 17 Xavier. Prioleau added two freshmen this season in guard Omari Moore and walk-on center Harminder Dhaliwal.

TV SCHEDULE
SJSU will play 10 games on TV this season, including three at home. SJSU hosts an ESPN networks game this year for the first time since 2010-11, when either ESPN2 or ESPNU will carry the SJSU tip against Utah State on Dec. 4. SJSU will also be on ESPN2 or ESPNU when visiting Utah State on Feb. 26. SJSU will have four non-conference games on TV, all against Pac-12 competition. The Spartans will be on CBS Sports Network when hosting Stanford at the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Dec. 14. SJSU will battle both UCLA and Arizona on Pac-12 Networks and meet Oregon State on FS1 for a neutral site game in Las Vegas. The Spartans will also have four Mountain West contests on AT&T SportsNet this season — Jan. 15 at UNLV, Jan. 21 at New Mexico, Feb. 8 at Nevada and Feb. 29 vs. UNLV.

San Jose State Spartans podcast with Ana Kieu: Is there hope for the men’s basketball team?

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

On the SJSU Spartans podcast with Ana:

1. Ana, talk about SJSU football beating Fresno State 17-16 and reclaiming the Valley Trophy last Saturday night.

2. SJSU men’s basketball suffered a blowout by UCLA 93-64 this past Sunday.

3. SJSU men’s basketball lost to #25 Utah State 71-59 on Wednesday night.

4. SJSU men’s basketball heads to Viejas Arena to take on SDSU on Sunday.

5. SJSU baseball added 6 signees to its 2020 signing class.

Ana’s final thoughts…

Catch Ana on the SJSU Spartans podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose State falls to #25 Utah State 71-59

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Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State men’s basketball team were on one of television’s biggest platforms on Wednesday night. ESPN2 televised the SJSU vs. #25 Utah State conference contest at the Provident Credit Union Event Center, which was a pretty big deal if you follow the Mountain West.

The Spartans’ starters were Brae Ivey, Omari Moore, Christian Anigwe, Seneca Knight and Sam Japhet-Mathias.

USU’s Justin Bean went on a 4-0 run to open the scoring, but SJSU’s Brae Ivey ended the Aggies’ run with a fastbreak 3-pointer at 18:16. Bean continued to give the Spartans the fits with back-to-back layups to extend the Aggies’ lead to 8-3 at 16:50. SJSU’s Seneca Knight hit a 3 to make it a 2-point game 38 seconds later. USU’s Sam Merrill quickly responded with a 3 to put the Aggies ahead 11-6. Ivey, however, hit a 3 to put the Spartans back within 2 at 15:10.

The back-and-forth play continued past the 10-minute mark of the first quarter. The Spartans held a 21-19 lead with 7:08 left. The Aggies gave the Spartans fits, but somehow, SJSU made it a close game until the first half came to an end. SJSU’s Christian Anigwe buried a 3 to help the Spartans regain the lead 21-19. Then, SJSU’s Isaiah Nichols to cut the lead to 1 late in the half.

SJSU trailed 36-33 at the break. But the Spartans played one of their best halves in the young season as they shot 40% and hit six 3s.

USU struck first to open the second half, but SJSU made it a 3-point game, thanks to a Sam Japhet-Mathas layup at 19:12. Sam Merrill was a key Aggies scorer who received help from big men such as Brock Miller, Justin Bean and Alphonso Anderson. SJSU’s Craig LeCesne knocked down a jumper to cut the deficit to 10 with 6:20 left.

SJSU made some key plays like Seneca Knight’s pair of fastbreak free throws along with a fastbreak 3 late in the half. But it was USU who prevailed from Sam Merrill, Justin Bean, Abel Porter and Diogo Brito. The Aggies won 71-59.

With the win, USU improved to 8-1, 1-0 MW. With the loss, SJSU fell to 3-6, 0-1 MW.

The Spartans head to Viejas Arena to take on the San Diego State Aztecs on Sunday, December 8 at 12 pm PST.