By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | The Spartans bench during their 59-55 loss against Western Illinois on Nov. 4. (photo by Kalkidan Tessema – Spear Photographer)
With the score at 73-71 with five seconds left in the game San Jose State (7-7, 0-2 MW) trailed Boise State (10-3, 2-0 MW) but needed the ball back.
Junior guard Will McClendon made his first free throw but, with two fouls left to give this meant he would have to miss his next free throw on purpose and SJSU would need to grab a rebound.
McClendon’s free-throw would hit off the rim and graduate student Sadaidriene Hall would grab the board, but his shot attempt would be blocked by junior forward Javan Buchanan. Boise State would get the rebound and the game would be over.
“We had the plan set up and we almost executed it perfectly,” McClendon said. “We just gave ourselves another opportunity.”
Earlier in the second half Hall left with an injury and did not walk off the court under his own power. Later Hall was seen at the scorers table but would not check in until McClendon’s free throws at the end of the game.
“(Hall) told me he was ok to go back in but then he said ‘I don’t think I’m ok to go back in,’” head coach Tim Miles said. “He came back in when it was just the free throw at the end because he’s got such a good sense for the ball and he didn’t have to move very far. I don’t know the severity of it, but I don’t think it’s severe.”
SJSU played very well defensively in the first half forcing Boise State to turn the ball over 10 times and with 17:33 to go in the second half SJSU had the lead out to 11 points.
“I think we were super connected defensively in the first half,” Senior guard Josh Uduje said. “We were flying around and making it difficult for them. I think we showed them a lot of different defensive looks that they probably weren’t expecting.”
In the second half the Broncos turned the ball over only twice and scored 45 points as they chipped away at the Spartans lead.
“They made six threes in the second half,” Miles said. “They did some good things to get us out of rhythm too and ultimately it just came down to a few plays.”
Senior forward Tyson Degenhart was a big problem for the Spartans as he put up 26 points while shooting 4-9 from three-point range and also snagged seven rebounds.
Uduje scored 22 points and was the team’s leading scorer while also grabbing five rebounds. Uduje is now the first Spartan since Adrian Oliver in 2011 to score 20 or more points in five consecutive games.
Junior forward Robert Vaihola was the team’s second leading scorer with 11 points and he also had eight rebounds.
Boise State proved to be a force in the paint as they outrebounded SJSU 38-26 and also outscored SJSU in the paint 38-26.
Broncos senior guard Alvaro Cardenas made his return to Provident Credit Union after spending the last three seasons in San Jose. Cardenas put up seven points, 10 assists but also led the Broncos with five turnovers.
In both of the Spartans conference games this season they held double-digit leads and were not able to close out. They have proven they can compete with some of the big names in the Mountain West, now it’s all about finishing.
SJSU faces off against Colorado State (7-6, 1-1 MW) at 2 p.m. at home on Dec. 31.
“We’re going to be a good winning basketball team in time,” Miles said. “If we just keep showing up and putting in the effort that we do in practice and game plans, we’re going to be alright.”
