By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Managing Editor | Head Coach Tim Miles on the sideline during SJSU’s 73-58 loss to Nevada on Feb. 14. (Photo by Alexis Corona-Aguilar – Spear Photographer)
Nothing went right for San Jose State (12-16, 5-11 MW) during the 105-57 loss to Utah State (22-4, 12-3).
The Aggies got out to a 23-point lead at halftime and it was too much for the Spartans to overcome. Utah State went on a 14-2 run over the last seven minutes of the first half.
This carried over into the second half as the Spartans were outscored 58-33. At one-point SJSU trailed by 51 in the second half.
Graduate student guard Donovan Yap Jr. scored 15 points off 6-for-10 shooting. Junior forward Sadraque NgaNga also had 15 points while shooting 5-for-9 from the field with three made 3-point attempts.
While these two shot the ball well, the rest of the team struggled.
SJSU shot 37% from deep while Utah State shot 52%.
Senior guard Josh Uduje had a rough night in his return to Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Uduje had an off night shooting 2-for-14 from the field and only scored four points.
The Aggies defense met the Spartans offense with double-teams forcing 13 turnovers. The Aggies were able to get 21 points off turnovers compared to the Spartans four.
Sophomore guard Latrell Davis, who has been a spark plug off the bench for the Spartans in recent games, only scored five points on 1-for-5 shooting. Davis also shot 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
SJSU’s third leading scorer was freshman guard Jermaine Washington who put up 8 points and hit two 3-point shots.
There has been one common theme through SJSU’s four game losing streak, injuries.
Uduje missed the previous two games with an injury (elbow,back) and looked rusty in his return to game action. Uduje is the Spartans leading scorer averaging 16.4 points per game.
Junior guard Will McClendon has now missed three straight games with a knee injury. McClendon is the Spartans second leading scorer averaging 12 points per game.
On top of that junior center Robert Vaihola would only play three minutes before leaving the game with an injury. Vaihola is the most physical presence the Spartans have protecting the paint and without him they struggled to contain the Aggies.
Utah State outscored SJSU 50-20 in the paint. Utah State also outrebounded SJSU 41-25.
SJSU will be on the road again versus Wyoming (12-15, 5-11 MW) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
This game will be key for SJSU’s seeding in the Mountain West tournament and the last time these two teams faced off was on Jan. 25 where SJSU won 67-58.
