Jan. 4, 2014
Logan, Utah-San José State shot the lights out from three-point range, setting a new school record for threes made in a game, but Utah State was even hotter from three-point range as the Aggies won 86-67 Saturday night in a Mountain West game in Logan.
The Spartans made 15 three-pointers, the record-setter a 28-foot bank shot from Devante Wilson, to break the old game record of 14 set in three games including two this year. Rashad Muhammad led the Spartans going 6-for-9 from three-point range. He ended the game with a team-high 20 points, his fourth 20+-point game this season.
"We are trying to have a more balanced inside-out game," said Spartan head coach Dave Wojcik. "But we got into some foul trouble with Chris (Cunningham) and Jaleel (Williams) and had to take more outside shots.
"We are still learning. I think we got enamored with the three-point shot too much. We can shoot it, and the threes kept us in the game for the most part. But you cannot live and die with threes all night."
The Spartans ended the night 15-of-35 from behind the arc. Six players made at least one three-pointer in the game. Williams went 3-for-6 from behind the three-point line and ended the game with 13 points. Wilson also scored in double figures with 11 points, making three of his 11 three-point attempts.
Utah State was 10-of-14 from three-point range, 71.4 percent. TeNale Roland was a perfect 5-for-5 from three and led all Aggie scorers with 20 points.
San José State and Utah State battled for most of the game. After the lead changed just four times in the first half, the two teams trade the lead eight times in the first five minutes of the second half. Utah State took the lead for good at 43-42 on a Kyle Davis layup with 15:20 left in the game. After pushing the Aggie lead out to three points, the Spartans got to within one at 45-44 on a Muhammad jumper but could get no closer the rest of the game.
The Spartans started the game by going scoreless for the first 5:37. Muhammad hit a three-pointer to get San José State on the board at 6-3 at the 15:23 mark. He scored the first nine points of the game for the Spartans.
Utah State took a 20-18 at the 7:32 mark of the first half but went cold from the field over the next 5:26, missing six field goals. The Spartans took advantage, making back-to-back three-pointers by Jalen James and Wilson to take a 24-21 lead at 5:05. San José State had a 27-25 lead before Aggie Spencer Butterfield hit a three-pointer with 2:06 left to give Utah State the lead for the rest of the half.
San José State returns home next week for two Mountain West games. The Spartans host Colorado State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. That game can be seen exclusively on Campus Insiders and on the Mountain West Network. San José State then hosts New Mexico next Saturday, January 11, at 7:05 p.m. That game can be seen on ROOT Sports and the Mountain West Network.
Both games will be played at The Event Center, located on the corner of Seventh and San Carlos Streets. Tickets are still available by calling the Spartan Ticket Office at (408) 924-SJTX, online at sjsuspartans.com or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
San José State vs Utah State
01/04/14 7:05 p.m. at Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
UTAH STATE 86, SAN JOSÉ STATE 67
SAN JOSÉ STATE (6-8, 0-2 MW)
Muhammad, Rashad 7-15 0-0 20; Williams, Jaleel 5-10 0-0 13; Wilson, Devante 3-11 2-2 11; James, Jalen 3-6 2-2 9; Cunningham, Chris 2-6 0-0 5; Pollard, Matt 2-2 0-1 4; Brown, D.J. 1-4 0-1 3; Thornton, Isaac 1-3 0-0 2; Alexander, Dylan 0-0 0-0 0; Mitchell, Brandon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-57 4-6 67.
UTAH STATE (11-3, 1-1 MW)
ROLAND, TeNale 7-7 1-2 20; MEDLIN, Preston 5-9 3-4 15; BUTTERFIELD, Spencer 5-12 2-2 14; DAVIS, Kyle 4-6 5-7 13; MOORE, Jalen 4-6 1-3 10; SHAW, Jarred 2-10 2-2 6; DAVIS, Marcel 1-2 2-2 4; BERGER, Danny 0-1 2-2 2; STONE, Jordan 1-2 0-0 2; MCGLASTON, JoJo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-55 18-24 86.
San José State................ 29 38 - 67
Utah State.................... 30 56 - 86
3-point goals--San José State 15-35 (Muhammad, Rashad 6-9; Williams, Jaleel 3-6; Wilson, Devante 3-11; Cunningham, Chris 1-2; James, Jalen 1-2; Brown, D.J. 1-4; Thornton, Isaac 0-1), Utah State 10-14 (ROLAND, TeNale 5-5; MEDLIN, Preston 2-4; BUTTERFIELD, Spencer 2-3; MOORE, Jalen 1-2). Fouled out--San José State-WILLIAMS, Jaleel; Cunningham, Chris, Utah State-None. Rebounds--San José State 22 (Williams, Jaleel 5), Utah State 42 (DAVIS, Kyle 12). Assists--San José State 16 (James, Jalen 5; Brown, D.J. 5), Utah State 22 (MEDLIN, Preston 8). Total fouls--San José State 22, Utah State 16. Technical fouls--San José State-None, Utah State-None. A-10015.
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