Jan. 19, 2015
SPARTANS HIT THE ROAD TO BOISE FOR ONLY GAME OF THE WEEK
The San José State men's basketball team heads to Boise, Idaho this week to take on the Broncos on Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain TV (DIRECTV 683 & 684). The game can also be heard live on Stretch Internet radio. The Spartans are searching for their first conference win of the season while the Broncos come in having won each of their last two conference games.
SAN JOSÉ STATE (2-16, 0-6 MW) at BOISE STATE (12-6, 2-3 MW)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 8:00 P.M. MT
TACO BELL ARENA (12,480)
BOISE, IDAHO
COVERAGE
WATCH: ROOT SPORTS ROCKY MOUNTAIN (DIRECTV 683, 684)
MW DIGITAL NETWORK
LISTEN: STRETCH INTERNET RADIO & KLIV 1590 AM
FOLLOW: @SJSUMBB - @SJSUAthletics
TOUGH SHOOTING NIGHT ENDS WITH 70-41 LOSS TO COLORADO STATE
San José State made only 10 baskets and fell, 70-41, to Colorado State in Mountain West action on Saturday night in The Event Center.
The Rams (17-2, 4-2 MW) put the Spartans down 18-8 with 9:07 left in the first half, and never relinquished the double-digit lead. Solid free throw shooting kept the Spartans in the game during the first period. But the Rams' lead would grow to as many as 32 in the second half.
SHOOTING PERCENTAGES GROWING APART
San José State is shooting just 31 percent from the floor, and the opponents have combined to shoot 51 percent through six Mountain West Conference games.
MUHAMMAD APPROACHING SJSU TOP-10 FOR THREES
At 105 made three-point baskets, sophomore guard Rashad Muhammad is seven shy of cracking SJSU's career top-10 list. D.J. Brown (2012-14) currently sits 10th at 112, closely behind Ricky Berry (1986-88) at 113 and Terry Cannon (1990-92, 94) at 114. Tim Pierce (2007-09) is San José State's career-leader for made threes with 153.
WOJCIK RETURNS TO BOISE
Dave Wojcik was the associate head coach at Boise State under Leon Rice for three seasons prior to becoming San José State's head coach before the 2013-14 season. Wojcik helped the Broncos to two 20-win seasons, an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, and a semi-final appearance in the College Basketball Invitational during his stint there.
SHORT BENCH MEANS EXTENDED MINUTES
San José State has had multiple players log 35+ minutes in each of the last six games. SJSU used its starting five for the entire first half against Wyoming (1/3) and had three players: Rashad Muhammad, Jaleel Williams and Darryl Gaynor II in for all 40 minutes. Williams has rested a total of only 11 minutes throughout the last five games combined.
THE GENE BLEYMAIER CONNECTION
San José State University Athletics Director Gene Bleymaier came to San Jose in May of 2012 after 30 years at the helm of Boise State Athletics. During that span, he directed the Broncos through three conference affiliation upgrades, and to comprehensive success in conference and national competition. Boise State posted thirty-three top-25 finishes in nine different sports. Most recognizable was Boise State football's ascension to a national brand. Bleymaier can take credit for conceiving Boise State's unique blue artificial turf for Bronco Stadium. Installed in 1986, it remains one of the most distinguishing playing surfaces in the United States.
A PAIR OF SEASON-HIGHS COME ON THE ROAD
Rashad Muhammad got off to a hot start in the Air Force game (1/7), hitting his first four attempts from beyond the arc. He finished the game with six threes which led to a season-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Jaleel Williams played all 40 minutes against UNLV (1/10) for the second time in three games and dropped a season-best 17 points.
ROAD TRIP RECAP
The Spartans fell to Air Force, 78-56, and UNLV, 74-40, in the team's first multi-game road trip during Mountain West play (1/7-10). SJSU had a six-point lead over Air Force midway through the first period, but a 19-2 Falcons run to close the half turned the tables for good. At UNLV, San José State was cold from the field all night, while the Rebels hit 15-of-21 shots in the first half. The Rebel's 15-point halftime lead grew to as many as 35 during the second period.
SPARTANS TAKE WYOMING DOWN TO THE WIRE
San José State led for nearly 26 minutes and went down to the wire in a 64-59 loss to the
Mountain West's second-place Wyoming Cowboys on January 3. Nine made free throws in 12 attempts during the final minutes gave Wyoming the edge. Ivo Basor was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor including two three-point baskets. Darryl Gaynor scored 17 to lead the Spartans and was one of three to play all 40 minutes for SJSU.
MORE ABOUT BOISE STATE
Boise State (12-6, 2-3 MW) is coming off of two straight wins in Mountain West play over UNLV (82-73) and New Mexico (69-59). Derrick Marks leads the team in scoring at 18.6 points per game and is shooting over 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Broncos are coached by Leon Rice in his fifth season.
LAST GAME & SERIES HISTORY WITH BOISE STATE
The last meeting between these two teams is one San José State would like to forget. The two teams last met on March 12 in the opening game of the 2014 MW Tournament, and after falling behind 25-0 to begin the game, SJSU went on to lose 83-52. The Spartans also suffered a 76-55 loss to the Broncos in the Taco Bell Arena last season on January 25. Boise State leads the all-time series 24-2.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
For tickets to all San José State men's basketball games, call the Spartan Ticket Office at 408-924-7589 or visit the tickets section on SJSUSpartans.com. The Spartan Ticket Office is your one-stop shop for all single-game tickets and season ticket plans.
CONNECT WITH THE SPARTANS
Connect with the SJSU men's basketball team on Twitter @SJSUMBB and with all Spartans athletics teams @SJSUAthletics. Fans can keep track of in-game and news updates using #SJSU, #spartanup and #spartanstrong. If you are on Facebook, so are we! Check us out at facebook.com/SJSUSpartans.
CATCH EVERY GAME ON STRETCH
Every SJSU men's basketball game can be heard live on Stretch Internet Radio. Head to the schedule page at www.SJSUSpartans.comand click the link to hear all the action called by play-by-play announcer Justin Allegri with commentary from Joe Boylan.
WEEKEND BROADCASTS ALSO ON KLIV 1590 AM
Every SJSU men's basketball game played on the weekend can also be heard live on KLIV 1590 AM Radio with Justin Allegri and Joe Boylan on the call.