Nov. 22, 2014
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Fullerton, Calif. --- San José State had five players in double-figures, including Jaleel Williams who had a season-high 16 points, but Cal State Fullerton's 22 free throws made the difference in a 70-66 loss at Titan Gym on Saturday.
The Spartans (1-3) finished the game 5-for-9 from the stripe.
"I have to credit my guys," said Spartans' head coach Dave Wojcik. "They fought and scratched all the way down to the last few seconds. It just didn't go our way."
The Titans (2-1) built an 11-point first-half lead with 20 points in the paint. But San José State was able to stay close, and Williams' three-pointer with five seconds left in the half cut the lead to six, 32-26, heading into the locker room.
The Spartans trailed by one, 38-37 with 14:38 left in the second half until Moses Morgan cashed three consecutive three-point baskets which made it 47-39.
San José State got it back to a two-point game, 49-47, with 10:07 left on threes by Rashad Muhammad, and Williams who ended 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
"I really wanted it bad," said Williams. "I wanted my team to know that we were in it down the stretch, and that we can compete with any team. We can always come out with a win, but we have to stay focused and stay together."
The Titans would build the lead back to nine again. Alex Harris, who scored nine of his game-high 20 points at the foul line, carried Cal State Fullerton down the stretch.
Muhammad's three pointer with four seconds left made it 70-66, and was SJSU's last gasp.
"You can be the victim, or you can dust yourself off and get back in the fight," Wojcik said. "That what we have to do going forward."
Muhammad and Jordan Baker each finished the game with 11 points. Jalen James and Frank Rogers both finished with 10 points, and Rogers ripped down eight rebounds.
San José State goes right back to Titan Gym on Thursday, November 27 to face Washington in the team's opening game of the Wooden Legacy.
Newspaper Box Score
San Jose State vs Cal State Fullerton
11/22/14 2:00 p.m. at Titan Gym (Fullerton, Calif.)
CAL STATE FULLERTON 70, SAN JOSE STATE 66
SAN JOSE STATE (1-3)
Williams, Jaleel 6-9 0-1 16; Baker, Jordan 5-14 1-2 11; Muhammad, Rashad 4-9 0-0 11; James, Jalen 4-7 1-2 10; Rogers, Frank 4-15 1-2 10; Bahner, Leon 3-5 2-2 8; Singer, Ryan 0-0 0-0 0; Pollard, Matt 0-1 0-0 0; Thornton, Isaac 0-2 0-0 0; Gaynor II, Darryl 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-62 5-9 66.
CAL STATE FULLERTON (1-2)
Harris, Alex 5-10 9-12 20; Gentry, Josh 3-6 6-6 12; Morgan, Moses 4-10 1-2 12; Boyd, Joe 4-9 0-0 8; Blackwell, Sheldon 1-2 3-5 5; McClellan, Steve 2-4 1-1 5; Johnson, Lanerryl 1-3 2-2 4; Esume, Kennedy 1-6 0-0 2; Akoh, Jamar 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 22-52 22-29 70.
San Jose State................ 26 40 - 66
Cal State Fullerton........... 32 38 - 70
3-point goals--San Jose State 9-23 (Williams, Jaleel 4-6; Muhammad, Rashad 3-6; James, Jalen 1-3; Rogers, Frank 1-4; Thornton, Isaac 0-1; Baker, Jordan 0-3), Cal State Fullerton 4-13 (Morgan, Moses 3-6; Harris, Alex 1-3; Blackwell, Sheldon 0-1; Johnson, Lanerryl 0-1; Akoh, Jamar 0-1; Gentry, Josh 0-1). Fouled out--San Jose State-BAKER, Jordan, Cal State Fullerton-None. Rebounds--San Jose State 40 (Rogers, Frank 8), Cal State Fullerton 33 (Morgan, Moses 7; Boyd, Joe 7). Assists--San Jose State 12 (Baker, Jordan 5), Cal State Fullerton 7 (Harris, Alex 2; Blackwell, Sheldon 2; Morgan, Moses 2). Total fouls--San Jose State 23, Cal State Fullerton 10. Technical fouls--San Jose State-None, Cal State Fullerton-None. A-1092