By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Managing Editor | Graduate student guard Donovan Yap Jr. goes up for a layup during SJSU’s 73-70 loss to Loyola Chicago in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Mar. 19. (Photo by Christian Vieyra – Executive Editor)
San Jose State men’s basketball (15-20, 7-13 MW) trailed by 15 points to Loyola Chicago (23-11, 12-6 A-10) in the second half. The Spartans battled back to bring the game within three for a final score of 73-70 and it came down to the last possession.
Graduate student forward Sadaidriene Hall chucked up a 3-point attempt and did not connect. Sophomore guard Latrell Davis was able to get a potential season-saving rebound with 11 seconds left.
Davis passed the ball to senior guard Josh Uduje who passed the ball to graduate student guard Donovan Yap Jr. with seven seconds left.
Yap dribbled the ball until time was about to run out, pulled up for three and missed it.
“I should have called a timeout on the last possession,” head coach Tim Miles said.
Head coach Tim Miles crouches on the sideline during the final minute of action in SJSU’s 73-70 loss to Loyola Chicago in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Mar. 19. (Photo by Christian Vieyra – Executive Editor)
With the final sound of the buzzer, a season of highs and lows for SJSU came to a conclusion.
Miles regrets how the last possession played out but, the Spartans could have avoided being in that position if it were not for missing layups.
The Spartans shot 12-31 in the key over the game. Loyola Chicago shot 16-22 from the key.
Loyola Chicago sophomore center Miles Rubin played a huge role in this. Rubin played tough inside all night, had two blocks, seven rebounds and scored 14 points on the other end.
Spartans junior center Robert Vaihola played well matching Rubin’s energy with nine rebounds, a block of his own and five points.
The leading scorer for Loyola Chicago was senior guard Des Watson. Watson scored 24 points, shot 8-15 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and notched three assists.
Despite trailing by 15 late, despite missing layups, the Spartans were able to put on an impressive defensive showing in the late second half to allow a near roaring comeback.
Loyola Chicago did not hit a single shot from the field in the last 4:45 of the game.
Yap made some big steals and helped get the momentum back in the favor of the Spartans.
Yap finished the game with 16 points and three steals.
“We wanted to come out more physical in the second half, speed them up a little bit and not let them be comfortable within their offense,” Yap said.
The Spartans won the turnover battle 15-8.
During this big run one the Spartans had a boost of energy from a new added advantage, an enthusiastic crowd.
With 2:28 left in the game, Davis took the Loyola Chicago defenders’ ankles and hit a step back three to bring the game within five points.
The crowd erupted at volumes that have not been heard in the Provident Credit Union Event Center all season.
Davis would finish the game with 11 points, drawing five fouls and shooting 6-6 from the line.
The crowd during SJSU’s 73-70 loss to Loyola Chicago in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Mar. 19. (Photo by Christian Vieyra – Executive Editor)
“(The crowd) spearheaded our run,” Uduje said. “Once the crowd got behind us down 12 and we started hearing them cheer, before you know we were right back in the game.”
Uduje was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points despite shooting 4-15 from the field. Uduje went 8-8 at the freethrow line.
SJSU listed the attendance at 3,627 which was the biggest total of the season.
“I think this is a great step forward,” Miles said. “But how do you put some things in place to build on this? That’s yet to be seen. But I think we’ve seen what reality can be at San Jose State.”
Even Loyola Chicago head coach Drew Valentine noticed how the crowd impacted the game.
“Credit to San Jose and how they came and competed,” Valentine said. “They had a pretty electric environment tonight.”
The first post season event and school history and the athletic department pledging to cover the first 700 students tickets drew a crowd.
The Spartans will hope to recreate this environment for the 2025-2026 season.
