By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Basketball Beat Reporter
Photo via Titus Wilkinson of The Spear
The difference in expression on Omari Moore’s face couldn’t be more stark.
At 5:07 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, Moore, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, was flashing smiles. He’d just led SJSU to its first Mountain West Tournament victory in program history with a 26-point double-double in an overtime thriller over Nevada.
However, at 9:06 p.m. on Friday, March 11, glum and disappointment was painted all over the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year. He scored seven points in SJSU’s 69-54 loss to SDSU in the tournament semi-finals.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown is a phrase that’s hung over Moore all year.
Both the crown and emotions hadn’t been heavier.
“I think this was definitely a special season for San Jose State,” said Moore. “It’s kind of hard to see that after a loss like that right now.”
A day before, Moore powered back from a four-point first half and erupted for 18 points in the second half and four in overtime. Offering hope that SJSU could notch its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996 and fourth all-time with two more wins.
His back-to-back layups in the waning minutes of the quarterfinal bout helped SJSU force overtime where he then knocked down a three-pointer during a key 7-0 run to put SJSU up 74-67. A lead SJSU never forked over.
Part of his short-lived Mountain West tournament glory were his two alley-oop lobs to Sage Tolbert. One of which earned the No. 7 spot on Sportscenter’s top plays.
“I was facing that way. I caught the ball. The rim is that way, so I just made it happen,” said Tolbert, who finished with 20 points.
Moore and SJSU head coach Tim Miles joyfully nodded along to the New Orleans native’s southern drawl as he recollected his impressive feat.
On the following day, Moore’s partner on the stage, Tibet Gorener, was swollen with disappointment, but earned the pleasure of answering questions he didn’t want to answer after leading SJSU with 15 points and sunk three three-pointers.
With SDSU’s defense holding Moore scoreless for nearly 35 minutes it wasn’t close to enough. During that stretch, he missed 10 shots during that stretch and even a free throw after an Aztec was called for a flop.
Moore’s lackluster follow up after becoming the first player to go for at least 25 points and 10 assists in a Mountain West game was understandable.
SDSU’s defense boasts two of the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year’s in Nathan Mensah and Lamont Butler and are ranked as the 11th most efficient defense according to Kenpom.
They’re joined by Darrion Trammell, Keshad Johnson, Adam Seiko and Micah Parrish who’re the latest to carry the torch of SDSU’s storied defensive culture and winning ways.
By shutting down Moore, SDSU advanced to its 13th Mountain West final in the last 15 years where they went on to defeat Utah State.
It built a fan base that turned Thomas and Mack Center into their home away from home despite being five hours away.
Some plays the poised Moore, looked uncharacteristically frazzled. On one pull up three, he barely knicked the backboard and on another possession late in the game was trapped at the top of the key and later called for a travel.
A slow first half isn’t atypical for Moore. He’s mentioned in the past his preference for taking it slow, to the chagrin of his coaches, seeing what a defense will give him and then going full tilt in the second half.
The same scenario played out a day earlier, when he scored four points in the first half, then exploded for 18 in the second half and four in overtime.
Similar situations played in three of SJSU’s biggest upsets during the regular season.
In SJSU’s first statement win of the Miles era, an 11-point victory over Santa Clara, Moore scored five in the first half, but 19 in the second half.
Against Utah State, in SJSU’s first Mountain West upset at home over Utah State since topping SDSU in 2018, Moore scored 19 in the second half after going for just eight in the first.
In SJSU’s highest ranking win in the NET era, an overtime stunner over Boise State, Moore scored nine in the first half, 10 in the second half and five in overtime.
But on Friday night, Moore’s first half mirrored his second half. Scoring five in the first four minutes and didn’t get on the board again until there was 1:43 left on a lay up.
The Aztecs are the only Mountain West foe Moore hasn’t beaten in his career. He’s averaged just 9.7 points in his eight losses while the Spartans have lost 11 consecutive games. They’ve scored 60 or more points in only one of those games.
Entering the game, it was an uphill battle and SDSU did what they’ve always done – prevent Moore from getting downhill.
His last Mountain West game shouldn’t diminish what he’s done against the conference this year. Averaging 20.1 points during conference games and leading SJSU to its first double-digit conference win season since 1994.
Before the 2022-23 season, Moore was 6-47 in his previous three years. He helped nearly double that this season. Turning SJSU from door mat of the Mountain West to a team that’s knocked at the door.
“It’s disappointing. Any time the dream dies, right? The old NCAA dream for San Jose died tonight. That’s really disappointing and frustrating, like you heard it from the players all the same way,” said Miles.
“What I told him, though, is when you put your head on your pillow tonight, you accomplished a lot this season. You should be very proud of that.”