By Sofia Wright—Content Editor
It was a game of back-and-forth, by being tied three times and a tally of eight lead changes.
The Spartans (6-12, 2-4 MW) dropped a near-win against Colorado State (11-7, 2-3 MW) and lost 81-70.
Star sophomore Seneca Knight hit a three under the four minute mark to make it a 64-64 game, though it would not be enough. Knight lead SJSU with 21 points, 3 of 6 from three, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block and a steal apiece.
The sophomore finished in double figures for the 14th game of this season and for the 10th time in the last 11 games.
Get to the Line
The second half of the matchup became a game of fouls.
“We just got to play through the calls,” said forward Christian Anigwe. “Call or no call we just have to keep playing.”
In the first half, SJSU had committed only six personal fouls. By the end of the game, that number rose to 22.
And it wasn’t just on the Spartan side of the ball. In the first half Colorado State committed five fouls. Yet, by the end of the matchup that number was 17.
Both teams were in the double bonus late in the second half, but it contributed to the Rams’ ability to get to the line and silence a Spartan comeback.
Bench Production
One plus that could lead to Spartan success in the future is their bench.
After the first half, SJSU trailed in bench points 14-6, but by the end of the game it only trailed 19-15.
Notably, down 64-57 with 5:10 left, Eduardo Lane scored in the paint on a putback to spark a 7-0 Spartan run. Lane was the only Spartan with a positive plus-minus.
Lane finished the game with five points, three assists and two rebounds.
Joining him in coming off the bench and producing was Trey Smith. Smith came into the game in the second half and finished with five points, two assists and a rebound.
Offensive Miscues
The Rams’ dominated the paint the entire game, and it wasn’t until the second half that the Spartans would see some paint success.
Colorado State only lead in bench points by four after the first half, 14-10, but by the finish that gap was 30-24.
SJSU closed an eight-point halftime deficit but couldn’t finish.
“It took us a while to actually catch up to [Colorado State] because they were making some twos,” said head coach Jean Prioleau. “We actually got the ball at the rim a lot but we couldn’t finish, missed some free throws … we just couldn’t finish and we played against a team that was able to finish.”
The Spartans will continue league play in Las Vegas against UNLV. Tipoff will be at 8 p.m.
Follow Sofia on Twitter @sofiagwright
