By Ernie Gonzalez (@superego1012):
Keith Fisher finished with his second straight double-double and topped last week’s career-high of 23 points with 26, but San Jose State couldn’t get it done against Wyoming, falling 89-75.
Fisher wasn’t the only one with a double-double as junior Jaycee Hillsman, who made his first start since Dec. 5, finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Spartans (3-22, 0-14 MW) had momentum early and were up by as many as six in the first half. Up 27-22, Wyoming (17-10, 8-6 MW) strung together a 16-0 run with four of the 11 first half threes in that span.
Of the 41 points in the first half scored by the Cowboys, 33 of them came via the three ball.
In the previous meeting between the two teams, the Spartans were able to limit senior Hayden Dalton to just two points at the Event Center.
Saturday afternoon was different, though, as Dalton hit the first basket of the game from long range and was responsible for four first-half triples.
Dalton finished with a double-double himself (22 points and 10 rebounds) topping his home-scoring average of 18 a game.
The Spartans’ leading scorer, junior Ryan Welage, finished above his average of 18.5 per contest with 19, but even that wasn’t enough for SJSU to best the Cowboys.
Although SJSU outrebounded the Wyoming by four, the Spartans as a team were limited to a season-low in assists with seven as the Cowboys found the extra man 25 times.
The Spartans now hope to shock the sports world as they go into Reno against conference-best and No. 24 Nevada Wednesday night.