By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | Graduate Student forward Sadaidriene Hall at the free-throw line. (photo by Denim Bragg – Freelance Photographer)
San Jose State (6-6, 0-1 MW) was down 91-88 to Cal Poly (5-7, 0-2 Big Sky) with 8.8 seconds left on the game clock. Sophomore guard Latrell Davis inbounded the ball to senior guard Josh Uduje.
Uduje took one dribble and then shot a contested three which went off the front rim. Senior guard Donovan Yap Jr. was able to get one hand on the ball and slap it back to graduate student forward Sadaidriene Hall who would hit the game tying three which would send the game to overtime.
“I just know the first doesn’t beat you, it’s always the second shot,” Hall said. “It’s just a moment I’ve been waiting for.”
The Spartans were only able to be in this position because of Mustangs graduate student guard Mac Riniker only making one of his two free-throw shots which kept the game at three points.
To start overtime, the jump ball would not go directly to any team and Davis would steal it and take it to the rim for a layup for the Spartans. Then after a missed 3-point shot from the Mustangs, Uduje would finish on the other end with a slam dunk.
“In practice we always try and steal the tip,” Davis said. “I was thinking, if I steal this it changes the momentum of the game.”
From there it was smooth sailing to a 107-100 win as the Spartans outscored the Mustangs 16-9 in overtime and at one point went on a 11-2 run.
“I’m so fired up for the guys,” head coach Tim Miles said. “To start out poorly, battle back, lose the lead and then battle back again. We did a great job in overtime with our spirit and our energy.”
Hall was the difference maker throughout the game. He put up a career high 33 points as well as a season high 11 rebounds. Hall also shot 14-21 from the field, 14 made field goals was the most made by a player in the Mountain West this season.
Since adding Hall to the starting lineup the Spartans are 5-1 with the only loss being against New Mexico (8-3, 1-0 MW), the team who won the Mountain West tournament last season.
Davis scored a career high 21 points and he also drew seven fouls including drawing two charges. During his career high 37 minutes played, Davis utilized his downhill abilities scoring 12 points in the paint.
“I feel like I’m at my best when I’m aggressive, playing downhill and trying to take charges,” Davis said. “If I see someone in foul trouble, I’m going to attack them.”
Uduje was the team’s second leading scorer with a 23 point and 10 rebound double-double. This was Uduje’s third consecutive game scoring 20 or higher.
This raised Uduje’s points per game total to 17.3 which leads the team.
After scoring 117 against Lincoln (CA), this marks the first time in school history that San Jose State has scored 100 points in back to back games.
“I feel like we just got in the flow of the offense,” Hall said. “Everybody trusts each other and believes that the next person can make the play.”
San Jose State outrebounded Cal Poly 41-34 which is an impressive feat considering junior center Rob Vaihola missed the game with an illness. There was only 19 minutes of play for a Spartan who was over 6-foot-5 while those being junior forward Sadraque NgaNga (16) and graduate student center Chol Marial (3).
Senior guard Steven Vasquez and freshman guard Pasha Goodarzi saw minutes in key situations during the game because of this. Goodarzi would finish the game with a 19 plus/minus.
The biggest problem on the night for the Spartans was graduate student forward Owen Koonce as he scored 32 points and was a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line.
“(Cal Poly) is an elite offensive team with one exception, they turn it over a little bit,” Tim Miles said. “We didn’t until the last eight minutes of the first half and we went on around a 23-8 run.”
After starting 1-5, the Spartans now have gone 5-1 bringing their record back to even. Coming up they have a tough challenge against Kennesaw State (7-3) at 7:30 p.m. at home on Dec. 21.
“We just want to show everybody else that San Jose is coming,” Hall said. “We’re on the rise.”
