Nov. 28, 2015
Anchorage, Alaska --- The San José State men's basketball team came out on top, 91-87, in a true shootout in the consolation semifinal of the GCI Great Alaska Shootout.Frank Rogers finished with a career-high 32 points to lead the Spartans who hit big shot after big shot to maintain a slim lead throughout the final three minutes.
"We made more plays down the stretch than they did at the end of the day," said Spartans' head coach Dave Wojcik. "They are a good team. We made our free throws down the stretch, and this was a good test for us playing them on their home court."
San José State (3-3) and Alaska-Anchorage (6-4) went shot-for-shot nearly the entire contest. San José State took its largest lead, 79-71, with Brandon Clarke's tip-in at the 3:30 mark in the second half. But UAA quickly cut he lead back down to three with a Sekou Wiggs layup, and a three by Christian Leckband.
The biggest shots of the game came next for the Spartans. First, threes on back-to-back possessions by Ryan Welage that made it 85-78 with 1:51 left.As the ruckus home crowd had witnessed all game, UAA's Drew Peterson answered Welage right back with a three of his own to make it 85-81.Then, it was time to turn to the big man on SJSU's next possession. Rogers took a pass over the top from Isaac Thornton inside the paint, and laid it in to it a two-possession game with 1:12 remaining. He also notched a game-high 32 points with the basket.Rogers was hot from the first possession of the game when he snagged an offensive rebound and put it back for the first two points of the contest.Rogers became the first player since James Kinney in 2012 to score 30 points in a game. He scored 23 of those points in the first half on 9 of 10 shooting. He finished with a final line of 32 points, 12 rebounds and two assists.
"I think (versatility) helps us out," Rogers said. "I don't necessarily need to have the ball for things to work. I can just be out there setting screens and they have to respect my game, which can open up lanes for my teammates who can make plays as well."
Freshmen Cody Schwartz and Brandon Clarke were just a couple of Rogers' teammates who also made an impact down the stretch. In a back-and-forth final 10 minutes, both players came up with a tip-in off of an offensive board. Schwartz also knocked down a three, and collected a second offensive rebound that led to a three-point basket to give the Spartans a 60-59 advantage at the 11:13 mark.
The Spartans have struggled so far this season from the free throw line. But when it mattered most on Saturday, Gary Williams, Jr. and Isaac Thornton both stepped up and nailed a pair with under a minute to play, which sealed the win.
Rogers was selected to the Great Alaska Shootout's All-Tournament team after averaging 22.0 points and 11.3 rebounds. Rogers showed that he can be lethal from all over the floor, including three-point range after finishing the tournament 7 of 11.
"I felt like coming in I was picking up my rhythm and getting into the flow of everything," Rogers said. "Our teammates shared the ball really well, which helped me get comfortable. I just tried to elevate my game and it showed tonight."
Welage joined Rogers in double-figures with 17 points, a new season-high for the freshman. Jalen James added 10 points.
Sekou Wiggs scored 30 points to lead UAA, which had three others in double-figures scoring.San José State ends the 2015 GCI Great Alaska Shootout 2-1 and in fourth place. The team returns home to face Antelope Valley on December 2, at 7:00 p.m. PST.
Newspaper Box Score
San José State vs Alaska Anchorage
11/28/15 2 pm at Alaska Airlines Center - Anchorage, AK
At Alaska Airlines Center - Anchorage, AK
SAN JOSé STATE 91, ALASKA ANCHORAGE 87
SAN JOSé STATE (3-3)
Rogers, Frank 14-18 1-3 32; Welage, Ryan 6-9 0-2 17; James, Jalen 4-7 2-4
10; Onwas, Princeton 2-6 3-6 8; Schwartz, Cody 2-3 2-2 7; WILLIAMS, JR.,
Gary 2-5 2-2 6; Thornton, Isaac 2-8 2-2 6; Clarke, Brandon 2-2 1-3 5;
Bahner, Leon 0-0 0-0 0; Hillsman, Jaycee 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-59 13-24 91.
ALASKA ANCHORAGE (6-4)
Wiggs,Sekou 9-19 9-14 30; Svejcar,Spencer 7-9 1-2 19; Mitchell,Diante 4-7
4-6 13; Peterson,Drew 4-7 0-0 10; Hammell,Corey 2-7 4-7 8;
Leckband,Christian 3-9 0-0 7; McTier,Jackson 0-0 0-0 0; Pearson,Brian 0-1
0-0 0; Parrish,Travis 0-0 0-0 0; Fulp,Damien 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 18-29
87.
San José State................ 43 48 - 91
Alaska Anchorage.............. 42 45 - 87
3-point goals--San José State 10-21 (Welage, Ryan 5-7; Rogers, Frank 3-4;
Onwas, Princeton 1-2; Schwartz, Cody 1-2; Hillsman, Jaycee 0-1; THORNTON,
Isaac 0-2; Williams, Jr., Gary 0-2; James, Jalen 0-1), Alaska Anchorage
11-30 (Svejcar,Spencer 4-5; Wiggs,Sekou 3-9; Peterson,Drew 2-4;
Leckband,Christian 1-6; Mitchell,Diante 1-3; Hammell,Corey 0-3). Fouled
out--San José State-None, Alaska Anchorage-None. Rebounds--San José State 40
(Rogers, Frank 12), Alaska Anchorage 26 (Wiggs,Sekou 7). Assists--San José
State 20 (Thornton, Isaac 5), Alaska Anchorage 20 (Mitchell,Diante 6). Total
fouls--San José State 25, Alaska Anchorage 23. Technical fouls--San José
State-None, Alaska Anchorage-None. A-2419
Game 10: GCI Great Alaska Shootout (4th/6th Place)
GCI Player of the Game: F. Rogers (SJ)