By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter
San Jose State (7-9, 0-3 MW) trailed San Diego State (14-2, 3-0 MW) 80-78 as senior forward Trey Anderson’s game-tying layup attempt was blocked off the glass with five seconds left in the game.
After the intentional foul was committed, junior guard Alvaro Cardenas stood on the back side of the court with his hands on his head. San Jose State was so close to forcing overtime in what could have ended being the biggest upset in school history.
Instead, the 81-78 loss is just another example of a recurring theme on the season, close but no cigar.
ESPN gave San Jose State an 18% chance of winning. The Spartans only lost by three points.
“I’ve been saying we can play with anybody in the country,” junior guard Myron Amey Jr. said. “And I’m not just saying that, we proved it to people tonight.”
That they did.
San Jose State took a team that was in the March Madness final all the way to the wire and at one point led San Diego State by eight.
Competing has not been a problem, closing games however has been.
San Jose State now has suffered its fifth loss of the season within six points. The Spartans last two losses have been a nine-point loss to Boise State and a two-point loss on a last second buzzer beat against Wyoming.
“You just gotta finish games man,” Amey Jr. said. “It’s a good thing (we kept it close) but it just sucks.”
The physicality was high from both teams throughout the game as San Jose State had to make up for the fact they were undersized coming into the matchup.
They kept swiping at the ball every SDSU possession, diving on loose balls, trying to create extra turnovers.
Amey Jr. dove to recover three loose balls throughout the course of the game.
San Diego State committed 14 turnovers while San Jose State only committed six.
SDSU’s defensive strategy consisted of a constant full-court press against SJSU. A tactic they implemented as soon as the Spartans touched the ball for the first time.
The toughest matchup in the game for the Spartans was Aztecs senior forward Jaedon LeDee who came into the game averaging 21.4 points per game. LeDee would finish with a game leading 31 points and 10 rebounds.
LeDee’s shot 9-for-11 from the free-throw line in the second half, a big reason the game stayed in SDSU’s favor.
Cardenas was the top scorer on the night for the Spartans as he put up 21 points and six assists.
With the Spartans being undersized and with sophomore center Adrame Diongue constantly in foul trouble will have to rely on more minutes from their depth guys. Sophomore forward William Humer and freshman forward Diogo Seixas could be seeing more minutes.
“I think (Seixas) has a lot of promise,” head coach Tim Miles said. “We played him at some four tonight which I think is his more natural position. He’s only going to get better and better.”
After coming up so close on so many different games throughout the season, Miles said the main theme for the rest of the season is frustration.
“It comes down to how you handle frustration,” Miles said. “Do you let it suck the life out of you? Or do you use it to make yourself stronger and more resilient?”
San Jose State is now 0-3 in conference play and to have any chance of competing in the Mountain West tournament, these next two games are must-win.
San Jose State’s next game will be at Air Force on Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
