San Jose State returns to the Bay Area for two games
Spartans drop home game to Coyotes, 76-62
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This is a lopsided matchup, so what’s the end result?
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans put in their best effort, but ended up losing their fifth straight game in a 76-62 loss to the South Dakota Coyotes at the Event Center Arena Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans entered the matchup with a hapless 2-7 record, so this was an important game against the Coyotes, who were 10-3 with a three-game win streak.
Both teams battled it out in the first half.
South Dakota jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Tyler Hagedorn’s three-pointer just 20 seconds into the game. San Jose State, however, responded with a jumper from Isaiah Nichols and a pair of free throws from Keith Fisher to grab a 4-3 lead at 17:42 of the first.
Despite that, SJSU’s lead was short-lived, as South Dakota’s offense applied the pressure. Trey Burch-Manning scored on a pair of free throws, a three, and a jumper to put the Coyotes ahead 10-7 at 15:47. Matt Mooney added a jumper to make it 12-7 Coyotes.
SJSU seemingly got themselves back into the game for a little bit. Oumar Barry and Ryan Welage made layups and Jaycee Hillsman hit a three for a 16-12 lead at 12:54, but Triston Simpson made a layup to pull the Coyotes within two (16-14) just 17 seconds later.
SJSU expanded their lead to 26-14 with 8:22 left, thanks to the combined efforts from Barry, Welage, Hillsman, Nai Carlisle, and Brandon Mitchell.
South Dakota snapped out of their scoring drought to pull within six (26-20) in a span of 1:14. Matt Mooney made a layup, Hagedorn made a pair of free throws and Carlton Hurst followed suit.
Both teams began to exchange plays as Fisher made a layup, Hagedorn with the jumper, and Ashtin Chastain made a layup. The score was still 30-22 SJSU with 5:43 left.
Again, South Dakota’s offense came alive as Burch-Manning, Hurst, Simpson and Mooney pulled the Coyotes within one (31-30). Mitchell then hit a jumper to give the Spartans a 33-30 lead with 3:02 left in the first.
Once again, Nick Fuller hit a pair of free throws and Hagedorn hit just one free throw to tie the game at 33. The Fisher show was in full effect as the freshman forward hit a jumper and a layup for a 37-33 Spartans lead at halftime.
The score was in favor of the Spartans at the end of the first half, but the Coyotes came to play in the second half. Hagedorn hit two three’s to tie the game at 39 at 18:50 of the second. Simpson added a free throw to push South Dakota ahead 40-39 just 36 seconds later.
Chastain made a layup to put the Spartans ahead 41-40 at 17:58, but SJSU didn’t score in three-plus minutes. The spotlight was all over the Coyotes, who went on a 6-0 run for a 46-41 lead.
Welage hit a pair of free throws, but South Dakota continued to surge ahead behind back-to-back three’s and free throws from Hagedorn. After an arguably bad call for a foul, Mitchell hit a three to pull the Spartans within six (54-48) at 12:20.
Burch-Manning hit one free throw and SJSU went on a 4-0 run, where Carlisle made a layup and Welage hit a jumper.
Hurst made a layup and SJSU pulled within three (57-54) on a pair of free throws by Mitchell. Burch-Manning hit just one free throw after that, but South Dakota went on a 9-0 run in a span of 2:16 before a 30 second media timeout.
The SJSU cheerleading team tried their best to motivate the home crowd, but the home team was unable to pick up the pace.
South Dakota’s run ended with 10 points in a total span of 3:37 after Carlisle made a layup with 4:10 left in the second. Both teams went on to exchange plays again.
A shot clock violation popped up with only 0.1 seconds left in the game, but that didn’t help SJSU as they lost their fifth straight game in a 76-62 loss to South Dakota at home.
Brandon Mitchell returned to the court.
Up Next
SJSU heads to Santa Clara to take on the Broncos on Thursday, December 21 at 7 p.m.
