Jan. 3, 2015
Postgame Press Conference
San Jose, Calif. --- A deliberate San Jose State offense and a perfect shooting night for Ivo Basor pushed Wyoming to the brink, but the Cowboys hit clutch free throws down the stretch that lifted them to a 64-59 victory at The Event Center Wednesday night.
The Spartans (2-12, 0-2 MW) trailed 57-55 when Wyoming's Riley Grabau stepped to the line and drilled the first two of six foul shots over the final 1:57 of the game. Rashad Muhammad's jumper with 29 seconds left got the Spartans to within two, 61-59, but Grabau and Charles Hankerson Jr.'s free throws put the game away.
"They executed the game plan exactly the way our staff wanted them to," said San Jose State head coach Dave Wojcik. "We gave ourselves a chance to win the game down the stretch. That's all you can ask for as a coach."
San Jose State controlled the ball deep into their possessions during the first half and led Wyoming (13-2, 2-0) 31-23 at the break. Basor hit all four of his shots in the period using the pick and roll, and even hit his first two three-point baskets of the season. Basor finished with a season-high 14 points.
"It makes me feel like all the hard work in the gym and the weight room is paying off," Basor said. "I just have to do whatever coach asks me and make him believe that I can get the job done for him."
The Spartans maintained their halftime lead until 6:25 left in the second period when Wyoming took the lead for good on a pair of Larry Nance Jr.'s free throws, which made it 48-46.
Darryl Gaynor II led SJSU for the fourth consecutive game in scoring with his 17 points. Muhammad chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds in his first game back since serving a three game suspension.
"I was excited to come out here and be with all the guys," Muhammad said. "It was great to go out and battle with my brothers."
Jaleel Williams also returned from a three game suspension and was one of three players alongside Muhammad and Gaynor who played all 40 minutes.
The Spartans finished with a season-low five turnovers for the game.
"I thought we competed tonight and played extremely hard," Wojcik said. "I thought we did a great job taking care of the ball. They have a great player in Nance. They went to him, and he produced 18 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes. He's a great player."
San Jose State heads back out on the road to face Air Force on January 7, and UNLV and January 10.
Newspaper Box Score
Wyoming vs San Jose State
1/3/15 7:00 p.m. at The Event Center
At The Event Center
WYOMING 64, SAN JOSE STATE 59
WYOMING (13-2, 2-0 MW)
ADAMS, Josh 6-11 6-9 20; NANCE JR, Larry 6-10 6-7 18; HANKERSON JR,Charles
5-7 1-4 12; GRABAU, Riley 0-3 10-10 10; COOKE JR, Derek 2-3 0-0 4;
McMANAMEN, Jason 0-2 0-0 0; HERNDON, Alan 0-2 0-0 0; SELLERS, Matt 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 19-38 23-30 64.
SAN JOSE STATE (2-12, 0-2 MW)
Gaynor II, Darryl 7-18 1-2 17; Basor, Ivo 6-6 0-0 14; Muhammad, Rashad 5-17
0-1 13; Thornton, Isaac 3-4 2-3 8; Williams, Jaleel 3-9 0-0 7; MAHONEY,
Danny 0-0 0-0 0; Mitchell, Brandon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 3-6 59.
Wyoming....................... 23 41 - 64
San Jose State................ 31 28 - 59
3-point goals--Wyoming 3-12 (ADAMS, Josh 2-5; HANKERSON JR,Charles 1-2;
GRABAU, Riley 0-2; McMANAMEN, Jason 0-2; NANCE JR, Larry 0-1), San Jose
State 8-24 (Muhammad, Rashad 3-10; Basor, Ivo 2-2; Gaynor II, Darryl 2-6;
Williams, Jaleel 1-5; Thornton, Isaac 0-1). Fouled out--Wyoming-None, San
Jose State-BASOR, Ivo; Thornton, Isaac. Rebounds--Wyoming 32 (NANCE JR,
Larry 13), San Jose State 24 (Muhammad, Rashad 5; Williams, Jaleel 5).
Assists--Wyoming 12 (HANKERSON JR,Charles 4), San Jose State 10 (WILLIAMS,
Jaleel 3). Total fouls--Wyoming 3, San Jose State 20. Technical
fouls--Wyoming-None, San Jose State-None. A-1188