By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Freshman forward Douglas Langford sets a screen for sophomore guard Jermaine Washington during SJSU’s 72-63 loss. (Photo by Cassandra Washington — The Spear)
San Jose State men’s basketball (3-5, 0-0 MW) lost its first home game of the season, falling 72-63 to UC Irvine (5-4, 0-0 Big West) on Sunday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center..
The Spartans were down just two points at halftime, but cold shooting in the second half allowed the Anteaters to pull away. SJSU finished 9-for-24 from three-point range.
SJSU was outmatched in the paint, allowing 50 points while scoring just 26 themselves.
Redshirt sophomore forward Adrian Myers returned after missing five games, coming off the bench to score a career-high eight points in 14 minutes.
Myers, who started the Spartans’ first two games before his injury, ended the first half with a buzzer-beating layup after a tip.
Junior guard Colby Garland, who had scored in double digits in each of the Spartans’ first seven games, struggled for the first time this season, finishing with seven points on 2-for-10 shooting.
SJSU head coach Tim Miles said UC Irvine’s physical play affected the team overall.
“I thought they got physical with Colby like they did with everybody,” Miles said. “I don’t think it was special toward him; I think it’s just how they [UC Irvine] played. That’s kind of a game where Colby’s got to find other guys. We’ve got to be able to create for our teammates, be able to find creative ways to get the ball moving.”
Redshirt freshman guard Ben Roseborough led the Spartans in scoring with 12 points after failing to record double digits in the previous two games.
Roseborough said the performance gave him a confidence boost heading into upcoming games.
“Definitely gives you confidence going forward,” Roseborough said. “We definitely wanted to get out with the win, so I definitely got more confidence going forward.”
For UC Irvine, redshirt sophomore guard Derin Saran led the team with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added seven rebounds. Redshirt junior forward Harrison Carrington had 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
SJSU managed just 10 assists compared with 17 for UC Irvine. Miles said the Spartans struggled to move the ball against UC Irvine’s defense.
“I didn’t love our ball movement,” Miles said. “By design, they do a good job of zoning up their big guys and then pressuring the guards to get them dribbling.”
SJSU shot 31 percent from the field while UC Irvine shot 49 percent. The Spartans limited turnovers to nine, compared with 11 for the Anteaters, and converted them into 17 points.
The Spartans’ starting frontcourt provided a bright spot, with senior forwards Yaphet Moundi and Sadraque NgaNga combining for 20 points and 17 rebounds.
Moundi said the effort from the frontcourt is consistent with what the team is expected to do.
“We’re just doing our job,” Moundi said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do every night, so it’s going to be like that every time.”
The Spartans will move on to the second game of their four-game homestand against San Diego at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
