By Mohamed Bafakih (@Moe_Fresco):
San Jose State’s men’s basketball team will face it’s lone, scheduled, nationally ranked opponent of the season Sunday afternoon when it hosts No. 21 Saint Mary’s inside the Event Center.
The Gaels (3-0) have won six consecutive games against the Spartans (1-2) and lead the all-time series, 42-39.
The last meeting was around the same time just a season ago in Moraga where Saint Mary’s, then-ranked No. 15 in the country, topped SJSU, 81-64.
This will be the first road test for the Gaels, who are coming off three straights wins by an average of 18 points against Saint Francis (PA), New Mexico State and Cal State Fullerton all at McKeon Pavilion
The Spartans meanwhile return home after a 81-69 loss at Southern Utah on Nov. 16.
Ryan Welage has had the touch to open up his junior campaign as the forward is averaging 22.7 points per game on 57 percent shooting.
A marquee matchup for Welage will be going up against redshirt senior forward Calvin Hermanson, who leads the Gaels in scoring averaging 20.7 points per game on 74 percent shooting, including 10-of-16 from beyond the arc.
Saint Mary’s features two other double-figure scorers in 6-foot-11 senior Jock Landale (16 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game) and redshirt senior point guard Emmett Naar (13.7 points per game , 8.7 assists per game).
SJSU’s defense faces a Saint Mary’s team which gives up the sixth-fewest turnovers a game in the country at 7.3. The Spartans meanwhile are turning the ball over 18 times per game.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.