March 2, 2015
FINAL HOMESTAND INCLUDES MATCHUPS WITH BOISE STATE AND UNLV
The San José State men's basketball team plays its final two games of the 2014-15 season at home this week against Boise State Wednesday night and UNLV Saturday night. Boise State comes in as the Mountain West's team to beat after they knocked off #22/24-ranked San Diego State last weekend. Wednesday's tip time against the Broncos is set for 7:15 p.m. PT. Saturday against UNLV will be senior night. Devante Wilson and Jaleel Williams will be honored in a pregame ceremony before the Spartans and Runnin' Rebels tipoff at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets for both games are available for purchase through the Spartan Ticket Office. Call today, 408-9247589.
san josé state (2-26, 0-16 mw) vs. boise state (22-7, 12-4 mw)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 7:15 P.M. PT
THE EVENT CENTER (5,000)
SAN JOSE, CALIF.
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NEVADA EARNS 62-51 WIN OVER SJSU AT THE FREE THROW LINE
A promising start that included a 19-point first half for Jaleel Williams and an early 11-point lead for the Spartans, was washed out when Nevada converted on 34-of-47 free throw attempts leading to a 62-51 win. The 34 made free throws marked a San José State game record by an opponent last set by the Wolf Pack in a game on December 27, 2001. While the free throws were the glaring stat in the box score, the Spartans had their chances in the final minutes of the game, but made critical turnovers leading to Wolf Pack buckets that put the game out of reach.
WILLIAMS CONTINUES TO TAKE OVER
The Spartans' lone active senior Jaleel Williams has scored 20 or more points in three of the last four games. In the last outing at Nevada, he hit five three-point baskets and exploded for 19 points in the first half. Williams averaged 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during the month of February. His scoring success has come at an efficient level too, shooting 50 percent from the floor (29-58) and 48 percent from downtown (19-40) over the last five games.
SCORING TRENDS IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES
San José State has gotten 17.2 points per game from Rashad Muhammad and 16.2 points from Jaleel Williams over the last five games. The two-headed monster has combined for 60 percent of the Spartans' offense during that stretch. Darryl Gaynor II has also pitched in with 9.2 points per game over the last five.
RASHAD BREAKS INTO TOP-3 FOR 3PTM
Sophomore guard Rashad Muhammad knocked down five shots from downtown against San Diego State (2/21) and vaulted into third all-time at San José State's for made three-point baskets. He currently has 130 makes from downtown in his career, trailing only Adrian Oliver (138) and the all-time career-leader Tim Pierce (153).
MUHAMMAD AMONG THE MW'S BEST IN SCORING
At 13.7 points per game, Rashad Muhammad ranks 8th among all Mountain West players. During conference play, he averages 2.5 made three-point baskets per game, which is second only to New Mexico's Hugh Greenwood at 2.6. Muhammad is a 79 percent free throw shooter, good for fourth in the conference.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH BOISE STATE
The last meeting between these two teams was a nightmare 50-point loss for the Spartans on January 21 in Boise, Idaho. The Broncos used a 16-0 run in the first half to create the initial separation. Boise State controls the all-time series 25-2.
SPARTANS CUT HUGE DEFICIT AT COLORADO STATE
A late second-half run at Colorado state last week turned a blowout into an interesting finish. The Spartans used a 13-2 run to cut the Rams' 20-point lead down to nine with five minutes to play. Danny Mahoney's three-ball, a Darryl Gaynor II layup and a conventional three-point play by Jaleel Williams fueled the burst. Williams' fourth three of the night made it a nine-point game, but the Spartans would get no closer as the Rams finished out for a 72-56 win.
Brandon Mitchell A TOP-10 REBOUNDER IN MW PLAY
Sophomore forward Brandon Mitchell is in the top-10 for his 5.6 rebounds per game during MW play and his 1.9 offensive rebounds per MW game also ranks inside the conference's top-10.
HALFTIME LEAD FADES TO 74-56 LOSS TO #25-SAN DIEGO STATE
Rashad Muhammad's buzzer-beating half-court heave at the end of the first period dropped in to send San José State to the locker room with the momentum and a 36-35 lead over San Diego State last weekend. Muhammad and Darryl Gaynor II combined for 30 points in the half to pace the Spartans. Then slowly but surely, the Aztecs regained the lead and grew it up to 22 points at one point in the second half. Some relentless SDSU pressure coupled with a shorthanded bench wore the Spartans out down the stretch of the game. Muhammad ended with a season-high 27 points, while Gaynor finished with 23 points.
TWO HOME GAMES REMAIN
San José State has two home games remaining this season: March 4 versus Boise State, and March 7 versus UNLV. Tickets can be purchased for both contests today by calling the Spartan Ticket Office at408-924-7589. The March 7 game will feature a pregame senior ceremony honoring Jaleel Williams and Devante Wilson.
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 outatfacebook.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 atwww.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.