By Haddy Barghouti (HB_SportsBeat) – Senior Staff Writer | Junior guard Colby Garland advances the ball while Rebels junior guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn trails during SJSU’s 82-75 loss. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
San Jose State men’s basketball (6-18, 1-12 MW) mounted a late rally but fell 82-75 to UNLV (12-12, 7-6 MW) on Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Spartans trailed by just four points at halftime, but the Rebels opened the second half on a 13-6 run, building a 13-point lead, with just over eight minutes remaining.
SJSU responded with a late push, trimming the deficit to three with three minutes to play after a 3-pointer from junior guard Colby Garland.
The comeback attempt stalled. The Spartans missed two late 3-point attempts that could’ve cut the deficit further, sealing their seventh straight loss.
Despite the outcome, Garland once again led SJSU with 23 points. Redshirt sophomore guard Pasha Goodarzi scored a career-high of 21 points.
Goodarzi briefly gave the Spartans the lead in the first half with a 3-pointer just over four minutes before halftime.
Both Garland and Goodarzi played all 40 minutes.
“He is gaining confidence like crazy,” SJSU head coach Tim Miles said of Goodarzi. “We knew he was an elite shooter. He is playmaking even more, and those are things, as you go, when you have an elite skill, you have to add to your repertoire. He is doing that.”
SJSU shot 45.8% from 3-point range, improving after recent struggles. Three players made at least three 3-pointers.
UNLV shot 31.8% from beyond the arc but found success inside, outscoring the Spartans 40-14 in the paint. The Rebels shot 49.2% overall compared to 38.1% for the Spartans.
The Spartans committed seven turnovers, compared to nine for the Rebels.
Junior guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led UNLV with 24 points, while senior forward Kimani Hamilton added 23.
SJSU continues to battle injuries and used a seven-man rotation. The Spartans remain without four players who have started games this season.
Redshirt sophomore forward Adrian Myers briefly exited late in the second half after limping off the court, but later returned.
“Our kids battle. We are still obscenely short-handed, but they are fighting, and I think they are getting better and better,” Miles said. “Once we can get up to strength a little bit, it will be fun to watch us.”
The Spartans have now lost 13 of their last 14 games and remain winless on the road in conference play.
SJSU returns home to face Grand Canyon at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.
