By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Senior forward Sadraque NgaNga shoots a corner three-pointer guarded by Long Beach sophomore forward Petar Majstorovic during SJSU’s 89–83 win. (Photo by Diego Macaraeg — The Spear)
San Jose State men’s basketball (5–5, 0–0 MW) played in its first overtime game of the season and closed out an 89–83 win over California State University, Long Beach (2–9, 0–2 Big West) on Tuesday night at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
Junior guard Colby Garland led the Spartans with 27 points, including 11/12 from the free-throw line and 10 points in the overtime period alone.
It marked his second-highest scoring game of the season, behind his 30-point outing against UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 8.
Garland said the poise SJSU showed late was what stood out most.
“The thing I’m most proud of with this team is how composed we stayed when we got down,” Garland said. “I think we just had a sense of urgency; it was great to see.”
The Spartans trailed by nine with 2:40 left in regulation before a full-court press forced key stops.
SJSU head coach Tim Miles praised his team for refusing to fold.
“Credit to our guys, they didn’t quit when they were dead in the water,” Miles said. “The guys kept fighting and found a way to win. Those are special nights when you can pull that off.”
A big three from sophomore guard Jermaine Washington, who finished with 14 points on 5/8 shooting, cut the deficit to two.
Senior forward Yaphet Moundi tied the game with 27.8 seconds left on a fast-break dunk following a turnover by Long Beach State’s Petar Majstorovic.
Turnovers were a major factor, with CSULB committing 15 to the Spartans’ 12
Long Beach State was led by freshman guard Gavin Sykes, who scored 26 points, and Majstorovic, who added 21.
Moundi continued his consistent offensive production, scoring in double figures for the eighth time in 10 games.
His 8/10 performance at the free-throw line helped SJSU build a significant advantage, as the Spartans attempted 27 free throws compared to Long Beach State’s 14.
SJSU also saw the return of redshirt sophomore guard Pasha Goodarzi, who played in his first game after a seven-game absence due to injury. He hit a key three that gave SJSU another lead in a contest that featured 14 lead changes.
Freshman forward Douglas Langford delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, posting a career-high three blocks and logging 17 minutes, his most this year. His +13 plus-minus tied Moundi for the highest on the team.
Langford said preparation made him ready for the moment.
“Being ready for a bigger role starts in practice, playing harder, doing the little things that matter,” Langford said. “Rebounding, blocking shots, staying solid on defense, doing whatever it takes to help the team get a win.”
The Spartans shot 45% from the field while holding CSULB to 29%. Rebounding, however, was a struggle, as SJSU was outrebounded 38–25.
Miles said the rebounding issues made the win feel unusually frustrating.
“I don’t think I’ve been more furious about a win since about 2004 when I was a basketball coach at North Dakota State,” Miles said. “Same kind of night, don’t get a stop, can’t get a rebound, somehow still got a win. So that’s what I’m thinking about.”
SJSU wraps up its four-game homestand at 4 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Stanford at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
