In another disappointing defeat, the San José State men’s basketball team dropped its sixth-straight game against No. 22 Utah State University on Wednesday night at home 90-70.
In the Spartans (9-22, 2-16 MWC) last regular season game, the team struggled massively guarding shots from beyond the arc against the Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC).
Utah State entered the game in last place for 3-pointers made in conference play, averaging 5.94 per game, but Wednesday night's match proved much different for the Aggies as they were able to drain nine shots from 3-point range by halftime.
“When Utah State shoots a 3-point shot that well, they’re a tremendous team,” SJSU Head Coach Tim Miles said. “For them to go out tonight and shoot it 16 for 27 was so impressive.”
The Aggies were led offensively by senior guard Darius Brown II as he led the team with 12 points, eight assists and shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from the 3-point line. Brown would ultimately end the night with a career-high seven 3-pointers.
The Spartans would keep the game neck-and-neck in the first half after a second-chance layup by senior forward Trey Anderson, but would once again find themselves in a hole after back-to-back 3-pointers by Aggies Brown to help push their lead 35-28.
“I think that is the story of the game, they played elite offense and we were not able to get them under control,” Miles said.
SJSU found itself in its second-straight game down by double digits at halftime staring at a 53-37 deficit.
“Well, it’s been all year we have not guarded the three,” Miles said. “I think it goes down to … our athleticism and the quality of this league, we just don’t always measure up that way.”
The second half saw the same result as the Spartans’ defense could not stop the second best scoring team in the Mountain West. The Aggies would at one point hold a 21-point lead, 68-47.
A bright spot in yet another tough loss for the Spartans was when junior guard Alvaro Cardenas recorded his fourth double-double of the season, he finished the game with 18 points and 10 assists.
“I think when I get to the paint and find the open guy, (I) get my teammates going,” Cardenas said.
The Aggies continued to dominate at guarding the three tonight holding the Spartans to a 7-for-20 night. Cardenas, who sits third best for SJSU in 3-pointers made, struggled from downtown shooting 0 for 4.
“(Utah State) is a good team, they’re lengthy, they contest every shot and they did a good job with that,” Alvaro said. “Since they’re switching (and) they’re not getting into rotation as much and it's harder to just find the open guy.”
SJSU junior guard Myron Amey Jr. led the Spartans’ offense with 20 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7 for 14 from the court.
The Spartans are next scheduled to play in the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Thomas & Mack Center. The time, date and their opponent is still to be determined.
“Next week it starts fresh … that's what we got to think of it and that’s how we have to approach it,” Amey said. “Like I said, all year it's been this defense. I mean, we put up 70 points but gave up 90 (points). So, it’s just defense, we got to get stops.”
