San Jose State seeks to rebound from Wednesday’s loss to Utah State

San Jose State continues conference play vs. Colorado Stateb.

San Jose State commits a season-high 23 turnovers

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans continued Mountain West play as they returned home to welcome the Colorado State Rams on Saturday afternoon.

Unlike San Jose State’s previous game vs. Utah State, they didn’t commit the same season-high 23 turnovers that cost them their second straight win of the season.

Both teams battled it out at the Event Center. The Spartans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead as Noah Baumann hit a three-pointer. The Rams quickly tied the game at three as Prentiss Nixon hit a three of his own. However, the even score was short-lived as Baumann hit another three to put SJSU up 6-3.

CSU then pulled within one (6-5), thanks to Nixon’s jumper; but Welage knocked down two jumpers for a 10-5 lead in favor of the Spartans. Nico Carvacho made a layup and a dunk, but SJSU responded with two layups by Oumar Barry and Brandon Mitchell, respectively.

The Spartan defense declined a little bit as Che Bob made a pair of free throws, Mitchell knocked down a jumper and Nixon hit a layup. Barry responded with a layup of his own. Welage continued his show with a jumper and a three, which appeared to get the Spartan offense (and defense) going.

Bob and Barry exchanged one free throw apiece before the Rams on a mini 4-0 run to close out the first half. Despite the Rams’ efforts, the Spartans carried a 31-20 lead to the locker room at the half.

Once again, the Spartans were on top of things as Baumann hit a three just 14 seconds into the second half.

The Rams cut the lead to seven (34-27) as Bob made a layup, Carvacho knocked down a dunk and Anthony Bonner hit a three. Isaiah Nichols’ jumper put the Spartans up by two and Jaycee Hillsman returned to the Spartan lineup just moments before Welage made a layup for another two points.

Nixon, Bonner and J.D. Paige each made one layup before Hillsman and Welage made it rain with threes in the middle of the second half.

Both teams exchanged points in the last several minutes of the game. Paige hit a three, Welage knocked down a jumper, the Rams went on a 9-0 run to pull within one (46-45). Mitchell’s layup ended the Rams’ run. Nixon hit a three to tie the game at 48. Robbie Berwick then made a pair of free throws to put the Rams ahead 50-48.

Ashtin Chastain made a free throw to pull the Spartans within one (50-49) with 5:22 left.

The Rams weren’t ready to back down just yet. Berwick hit a three to put the Rams back on top (53-49). The Spartans then pulled within two (53-51), thanks to Fisher’s layup.

The Rams continued to give the Spartans a hard time as Carvacho’s layup put the visiting team ahead 55-51 with 1:35 left. A scoring drought affected SJSU and Bonner made a free throw for a 56-51 lead.

Nixon added a pair of free throws, Berwick contributed a free throw of his own and Nichols pulled the Spartans within seven (59-52), but it was too late for the Spartans, who were doing just fine until they blew the lead.

The Spartans dropped a 59-52 decision to the Rams at the Event Center.

Notes
SJSU starters: Keith Fisher, Isaiah Nichols, Noah Baumann, Ryan Welage and Ashtin Chastain.

CSU starters: Che Bob, Prentiss Nixon, Anthony Bonner, J.D. Paige and Nico Carvacho.

Up Next

SJSU will host UNLV on Wednesday, January 3rd at 8 pm PT.