By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Redshirt freshman guard Ben Roseborough lays it up during SJSU’s 85-74 loss to Utah on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
The San Jose State men’s basketball team (0-2, 0-0 MW) travels to East Lansing, Michigan, to face No. 17 Michigan State (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center, a matchup dubbed the Spartan Derby.
This will be just the second-ever meeting between the two programs. The last matchup came in Dec. 2007, when Michigan State rolled to an 85-45 win.
SJSU is still searching for its first win of the season after dropping its opening two games, an 84-75 loss to Utah and an 85-74 loss to UC Santa Barbara.
Junior guard Colby Garland has been the early standout for SJSU, scoring 21 points in the opener and following it up with a career-high 30 points against UCSB.
Michigan State’s defense will need to keep an eye on him, but the San Jose Spartans will also look to close the rebounding gap. Michigan State is averaging 46 rebounds per game, while SJSU sits at 30.5.
Senior forward Jaxon Kohler leads the way for Michigan State, averaging a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
On the other side, SJSU senior forward Yaphet Moundi is contributing seven points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Moundi said the team believes in its ability to compete despite the challenge ahead.
“I feel like we have some good pieces, we play together. It’ll be tough, but nothing’s impossible; we just have to stay disciplined,” Moundi said.
SJSU will also look to make Michigan State prove itself from the perimeter. Through two games, MSU is shooting just 20% from three, while SJSU is at 29.7%.
Redshirt freshman guard Ben Roseborough has been one of the team’s top shooters, averaging 10 points per game and hitting 57.1% from beyond the arc.
“We definitely have to come prepared and know what we’re getting into; it’s going to be a hostile environment,” Roseborough said. “The first and most disciplined team wins.”
Michigan State forward Coen Carr is another key player to watch as the athletic sophomore leads MSU in scoring with 13.5 points per game. Michigan State also holds the edge in ball movement, averaging 18 assists per game compared to SJSU’s seven.
SJSU will need a complete team effort on both ends of the floor to keep up with a Michigan State team that ranks among the nation’s top 25.
Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.
