By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Basketball Beat Reporter
Photo via Titus Wilkinson of The Spear
Second-seeded San Jose State men’s basketball (21-13, 10-8) looks to follow up its first-ever postseason victory by facing 10th-seeded Radford (20-14) in the quarterfinals of the CBI on Monday at 1:30. The game can be seen on Flo Hoops or listened to on 860 AM “The Answer.”
The Spartans currently rank 95th in the NET and 93rd in Kenpom while the Highlanders rank 184th in the NET and 179th in Kenpom.
SJSU can also set the school record for wins in a season (22) with a victory. The previous record of 21 was set in 1981.
SJSU CBI catch-up:
SJSU skated to an easy 77-52 victory over 15th-seeded first-year Division I program Southern Indiana on Saturday in the first round behind Alvaro Cardenas’ career-high 22-point performance.
The Spartans dominated the Screaming Eagles in all muscle categories:
Rebounding: 49-25
Offensive rebounding: 18-8
Points in the paint: 36-16
Second chance points: 15-3
Reigning Mountain West Player of the Year senior guard Omari Moore had 15 points and eight rebounds, sophomore power forward Robert Vaihola had 10 points and nine rebounds and senior forward Sage Tolbert had nine points and eight rebounds.
However, SJSU’s second-year head coach said senior center Ibrahima Diallo is “questionable” after injuring what appeared to be his left ankle or lower leg early into the game.
Diallo, the Mountain West blocks-leader, was crucial in helping SJSU rank fifth in rebounding margin nationwide. Moreover, if Diallo doesn’t play it’ll be the first injury to SJSU’s starting lineup all season. The Spartans stand as one of three team’s nationwide to use the same starting lineup for the entire season.
Radford CBI catchup
Radford men’s basketball clinched a 20-win season in its back-and-forth overtime clash with seventh-seeded Tarleton State.
Souleymane Koureissi knocked down the winning hook shot to complete a 12-point second half comeback.
The Highlanders had three players finish in double-figures; Daquan Smith had 20 points, Shaquan Jules had 16 points and Antione Bryan had 13 points.
There were four lead changes in the final minute of regulation and in overtime, Radford held Tarleton State to just six points. The Texan Riders shot just 2-for-6 and with six seconds left and down 72-70, Jakorie Smith air balled a three from the corner.