By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Spartans huddle up during a timeout led by head coach Tim Miles, now in his fifth year with the program, during SJSU’s 110-56 win over Bethesda on Nov. 17. (Photo by Alexis Corona-Aguilar – The Spear)
San Jose State men’s basketball (3-4, 0-0 MW) bounced back from its biggest loss of the season with a 63-51 win over Loyola Chicago (1-7, 0-0 A-10) on Wednesday in the second game of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs.
The Spartans fell behind 13-4 to open the game but chipped away to trail by only two at halftime.
They opened the second half with a strong run, building a 13-point lead after a three from sophomore guard Jermaine Washington. Washington finished with 15 points, marking the third time this season he has reached that total.
Junior guard Colby Garland matched him with 15 points of his own, extending his streak of scoring in double figures in all seven games this season.
SJSU had four players finish in double digits, including senior forwards Yaphet Moundi and Sadraque NgaNga, who each added 10 points.
Loyola Chicago was led by junior center Miles Rubin, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Chuck Love III also added 13 points for the Ramblers.
The win also served as a measure of revenge for the Spartans, who lost 73-70 to the Ramblers last season in the programs’ first-ever meeting during the National Invitation Tournament.
Defensively, the Spartans held Loyola Chicago to 51 points, the lowest total allowed in a game this season.
SJSU recorded eight steals compared to Loyola’s one and forced 21 turnovers, converting them into 31 points.
Loyola held slight advantages on the glass, outrebounding SJSU 29-26 and finishing with four blocks to the Spartans’ one.
SJSU couldn’t find a rhythm from deep, hitting only 5-of-19 threes after struggling from long range in Tuesday’s loss to Tulsa.
However, the Spartans controlled the paint with 26 points inside and went 12-for-17 from the free-throw line. SJSU also used just a seven-man rotation, its shortest of the season.
SJSU head coach Tim Miles said the performance was exactly the response he hoped to see.
“An excellent win for Spartan basketball, bounce back after a disappointing game against a strong Tulsa team, beat Loyola Chicago, NIT revenge,” Miles said.
SJSU returns home to face UC Irvine at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 at the Provident Credit Union Event Center, where the Spartans will look to remain undefeated on their home floor.
