The San Jose State University men’s basketball team continued its 2018-19 regular season with a 71-63 loss to Santa Clara University Saturday night at the
Event Center.
The Spartans and the Broncos traded a series of three pointers and layups to keep the score close in the first half but weaknesses in the Spartans’ offense in the second half contributed to the Spartans’ 1-5 record.
The Spartans’ offense was off to a strong start when junior forward Michael Steadman delivered a layup that was then followed by two fields goals from Spartans’ senior center Oumar Barry and sophomore guard Noah Baumann to put SJSU up 14-7.
The Bronco offense resuscitated when Santa Clara forward Keshawn Justice scored a 3-pointer of his own, only to have it answered by Steadman’s successful field goal right after.
“I think I could’ve done a little bit better in rebounding but I felt the flow of the game was going through me early in the first half,” Steadman said according to SJSU Athletics. “I think I did a pretty good job but we didn’t come out with the ‘W’ so obviously it wasn’t the best job.”
Despite the Spartans’ first half successes, Broncos’ freshman guard Trey Wertz and sophomore guard Tahj Eaddy responded with a combined 30 game points in the first half, mostly in the paint. Eaddy recorded two assists in the second quarter as Justice made yet another 3-point jump shot midway through the second quarter.
A made jump shot from Steadman and assist from Spartans’ junior forward Craig LeCesne late in the first half helped to tie the game 35-35. Despite the offensive rally, a layup and subsequent free throw made by Eaddy boosted the Broncos to lead at halftime 38-35.
The second half yielded more Spartan offensive action when Barry’s early third quarter layup was the followed by a 3-point field goal from junior guard Brae Ivey. Broncos’ senior forward Henrik Jadersten grabbed four rebounds and went 7-9 from the field for the game and contributed 17 points of his own.
The Broncos’ offense continued to eat away at the Spartans’ defense when Broncos’ sophomore forward Josip Vrankic finished a fastbreak-dunk followed by Eaddy driving in the paint for his fifth layup of the night.
Despite late jumpers from Steadman and Baumann, the Broncos outlasted SJSU 71-63 to earn their first win of the season.
“I didn’t think we contested as good as we should have. No. 2 [Eaddy] got a little hot, we should’ve contained him a little bit better…we didn’t get a lot of mid-ball screens and we just have to contest,” Baumann said according to SJSU Athletics.
Despite the frustrating result, the game was one of the Spartans’ best in terms of offensive individual statistics, a point that was well-addressed by head coach
Jean Prioleau.
“We just did not guard well enough, and the numbers are really strange. We didn’t turn it over as much as used to and we actually out-rebounded them [Santa Clara] by about 15,” Prioleau said according to SJSU Athletics. “We just couldn’t finish around the basket when had the chance to.”
