Photo credit: @SanJoseStateMBB
By Ana Kieu
The San Jose State men’s basketball team had hoped to snap a 4-game losing skid at Viejas Arena against San Diego State on Sunday afternoon, but the Spartans’ hopes weren’t granted in the Mountain West contest.
SJSU’s starting five featured Brae Ivey, Omari Moore, Christian Anigwe, Seneca Knight and Sam Japhet-Mathias.
SDSU jumped out to a 7-2 lead at the first media timeout at the 15:18 mark of the first half. Though, neither team was off to the best of starts as the Spartans and Aztecs combined for just 7-of-24 from the floor at the 12-minute mark of the first.
Ralph Agee scored 5 points off the bench to provide a beautiful yet fiery spark for the Spartans with 9:52 left in the first. Then, Christian Anigwe hit a 3-pointer and Zach Chappell scored off the high glass with 6:08 left in the first.
Omari Moore made a move and delivered a 3 to cut the deficit to 10, Ralph Agee knocked down a triple to cut the deficit to 8 and SJSU scored 6 unanswered points to cut the deficit to 5 late in the first. But, despite the Spartans’ efforts, SJSU trailed 30-25 at the halftime break.
SJSU was off to a great start to open the second half. The Spartans scored back-to-back buckets and Ralph Agee had one of his best outings in a Spartan uniform with a season-high 12 points at the 15:46 mark of the second. Yet, SDSU led 39-31 at the first media timeout of the second.
Brae Ivey made a 3 from downtown to cut the deficit to 5 once again. SJSU trailed 41-36 at the 12:34 mark of the second. Ivey later buried a triple to keep the Spartans in the game with 8:55 left in the second.
Two perfect 3-point buckets from Seneca Knight and Christian Anigwe cut the deficit to 3 to trail 52-49 with 4:18 left in the second. SDSU led 54-49 at the final media timeout with 4 minutes left in the second. Knight hit a 3 to cut the deficit to 2 and Brae Ivey buried a triple to lift the Spartans to a 55-54 lead — their first lead of the game — with 1:29 left in the second. Knight scored a layup to extend the lead 57-54 with 1:03 left in the second.
But the Spartans’ contentedness was short-lived as the Aztecs took the lead 59-57 with 0:9 left on the clock. Malachi Flynn hit the game-winning 3 over three Spartan defenders. The Aztecs won 59-57.
With the win, SDSU remains undefeated with a 10-0, 2-0 MW record. With the loss, SJSU fell to 3-7, 0-2 MW.
The Spartans return home to host the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 pm PST.
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