By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Spear Reporter | Junior guard Colby Garland dribbles the ball while being guarded by Cowboys sophomore guard Damarion Dennis during SJSU’s 66-62 loss. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
San Jose State men’s basketball (6–14, 1–8 MW) fell 66–62 to Wyoming (12–8, 3–6 MW) on Saturday at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo., remaining winless on the road in conference play.
The Spartans trailed by eight at halftime after shooting just 29% from the field in the opening half, but rallied late and tied the game at 62 with less than a minute remaining.
Wyoming responded after SJSU was called for goaltending on the ensuing possession, and the Spartans were unable to convert offensively on their next trip down the floor. Forced to foul, SJSU sent the Cowboys to the line, where they knocked down two free throws to seal the four-point win.
“Just a brutal way to lose the game,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said. “We didn’t quite make enough plays, but to have such a close call for our kids at the end was really difficult.”
The game marked the return of junior guard Colby Garland, the Spartans’ leading scorer at 18.9 points per game, after he missed the previous four contests with an injury. Garland came off the bench for the first time this season and finished with 10 points.
Wyoming was also without its second-leading scorer, freshman guard Nasir Meyer. Still, the Cowboys found production elsewhere, led by sophomore guard Damarion Dennis, who scored a team-high 16 points.
Senior forward Sadraque NgaNga posted a season-high 14 points, while sophomore guard Jermaine Washington added 14 in just his second game back from injury.
The Spartans continued to play without starting senior forward Yaphet Moundi, whose absence proved costly on the glass as SJSU was outrebounded 44–25.
The loss marked SJSU’s ninth defeat in its last 10 games, while Wyoming snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Spartans return home for a two-game homestand, beginning with Boise State at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
