By Niles Hall – Spear Reporter | Graduate Student guard Donovan Yap Jr. in his follow through after attempting a 3-point shot during SJSU’s 69-66 loss to SDSU on Feb. 11. (Photo by Abby Westrope – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State graduate student guard Donovan Yap Jr. stepped up as the team’s two leading scorers were out with injury, giving the Spartans a strong scoring performance despite the 69-66 loss to San Diego State.
The Spartans came out swinging Tuesday night, securing a seventeen point halftime lead.
Yap played a key role in obtaining this lead without the team’s leading scorers, guards Josh Uduje and Will McClendon.
SJSU played complementary basketball down the stretch of the first half, making crucial shots and capitalizing on SDSU’s struggles. SDSU shot just 22% from the field during the first half.
Yap finished the game with 19 points, shooting an efficient 57% from the field. This was Yap’s second highest scoring total of the season.
Yap was a key defensive anchor for the Spartans, playing good perimeter defense and forcing two steals.
He was key in holding SDSU to a poor shooting night, limiting them to 4-23 from deep.
“When we have (Uduje and McClendon) I don’t have to do as much,” Yap said. “I knew tonight without those two I had to for sure step up.”
Yap went down late in the first half with what looked like a knee injury and he returned to start the second half.
“He really played well tonight.” head coach Tim Miles said “He looked like a guy that can really carry us when he needs to.”
