San Jose Spartans head coach Tim Miles meets with the media after an 80-75 loss to UC Riverside. (Photo by Sean Mentzer, Sports Radio Service)
By Sean Mentzer
SAN JOSE – With UC Riverside allowing only 53.5 points per game, they dragged the Spartans into a tough defensive matchup. San Jose State falls to 1-2 on the season (0-0 MW) after an 80-75 loss to the Highlanders.
The Spartans opened the first half with an electric 8-0 run, forcing the Highlanders into an early timeout, but they still couldn’t stop the Spartans’ momentum as they went on a 16-3 run into the first media timeout.
Spartans senior guard Mekhi Mason scored nine of the opening 16 points, draining two threes.
However, momentum swung back to the Highlanders. With seven minutes remaining, they cut the deficit to 25-23. The Spartans went into halftime with a 37-36 lead.
The Spartan turnovers allowed the Highlanders to close the gap. With 14 turnovers in the first half, the Highlanders capitalized, scoring 17 points off those turnovers and 10 points in transition. It remains a problem for the Spartans, totaling 24 on the night.
“Our ball handling was atrocious,” Spartans head coach Tim Miles said. “I thought they [Highlanders] were physical with it, but really they took advantage of our poor ball handling.”
“I’ve never had a game where we shoot 60% and lose,” Miles added.
The Highlanders finished the night with 30 points from turnovers.
The Spartans forced the Highlanders to take shots from the free-throw line. The Highlanders, who have the Big West’s worst free-throw percentage at 51%, were shooting just 44% from the line by halftime.
With the game tied 45-45 five minutes into the second half, the Spartans couldn’t stop the Highlanders from beyond the arc. Going on an 18-15 run, the Highlanders drained three three-pointers to take a 63-60 lead.
Mason scored four points in a three-minute stretch to help give the Spartans a 67-66 lead. He would finish the night seven-of-eight from the field, scoring a team-leading 22 points, but fouled out with three minutes remaining.
“It really hurt us,” Miles said. “If you just look at his plus-minus, I think he’s plus six, but 22 points in 21 minutes. That could’ve been a night where he had 30-35 points.”
The Spartans had chances to extend their lead at the free-throw line, but in the final eight minutes of the half, they shot just 71.4%.
Despite a 17-11 run by the Spartans, they held a 75-72 lead in the final two minutes. However, the turnover struggles continued, allowing Riverside guard Tony Duckett to score an and-one that put the Highlanders ahead. The Highlanders scored eight unanswered points to secure an 80-75 victory.
Duckett dragged UC Riverside back into the game, scoring 12 points in the second half for a total of 22 on the night.
The Highlanders received strong scoring support from their bench, something the Spartans didn’t have the luxury of tonight. The Highlanders’ bench contributed 40 points, compared to only 14 from the Spartans.
In other news off the court, the Spartans signed Arizona State transfer Moe Odum. However, he isn’t eligible to play until December 18. Odum left Arizona State after signing a pro contract with KB Trepça in Europe over the summer. The Big 12 blocked his return to the Sun Devils because he put pen to paper on a professional contract. After securing another year of eligibility through federal court proceedings, the Spartans signed him on November 10, and he is expected to be a significant contributor to the team’s offense.
Last season with Arizona State, he averaged 16.4 points per game, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, shooting 40.6% from the field.
Although they finished the night shooting 60.5%, the Spartans desperately need to clean up their turnover troubles. They’ve proven they can score points; now, it’s crucial they stop being their own worst enemy by letting opponents capitalize on their mistakes.
The Spartans will be back at Provident Credit Union Event Center on Sunday to host Alabama State.
