Nov. 26, 2016
SPARTANS CONTINUE ROAD TRIP AT WASHINGTON STATEA Sunday matinee at Washington State continues the three-game road trip for San Jose State men's basketball. The Pac-12 Network will broadcast the 3:00 p.m. (PT) tipoff between the Spartans and Cougars from Friel Court inside Beasley Coliseum. San Jose State is a much different team than two years ago when the two programs met on the same floor. Both teams are heading into Sunday's game after a loss and it will be the Spartans trying to snap a five-game losing streak to the Cougars when the ball goes up.GAME #5
San Jose State (1-3) at Washington State (2-3)Sunday, November 27, 2016, 3:00 p.m. (PT)Beasley Coliseum (11,671)Pullman, Wash.WATCH on Pac-12 NetworkComcast: 823 HD, 434 SDOnline: www.pac-12.com/liveCLOSE BATTLE ENDS IN 81-64 LOSS AT No. 15 SAINT MARY'SThere were 11 lead changes in the first half between the Spartans and #15-Saint Mary's last Tuesday night in Moraga. San Jose State trailed by three, 43-40 at the break. But The Gaels proved why they are a top-15 team in the country down the stretch of the second period, using an 18-2 run to pull away for good. Ryan Welage (6-9, So., F, Greensburg, Ind.) led SJSU in scoring with 17 points. Jaycee Hillsman (6-6, So., G, Champaign, Ill.) sank 7-of-7 from the free throw line and ended with a new career-high 16 points.JAMES OUT TO HIS BEST STARTJalen James (6-4, Jr., G, Chicago, Ill.) is now the veteran of the group of point guards for San Jose State. Hampered by an injury for a greater part of the last two year, James has started this season better than any other. He's currently top-three on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg) and rebounding (4.0 rpg). James is shooting the ball with confidence, and that has helped boost his 3-point accuracy to one of the best on the team at 50 percent (6-12).CLARKE SCORING IN MORE WAYSBrandon Clarke (6-8, S0., F, Phoenix, Ariz.) was good enough to be the Mountain West's Sixth Man of the Year last season. This year he's off to an even better start in his new role as the starting big-man. Clarke is shooting 52 percent (26-50) from the field through four games, and he is the per-game scoring (16.3) and rebounding (7.0) leader. The second-year man from Phoenix, has created more shots for himself against defenders this year, while still cleaning up around the rim like he did all of last season.SECOND-CHANCE SPARTANSSJSU managed 14 second-chance points against Saint Mary's Tuesday night, bringing the average of second-chance PPG to 13.3. Spartan opponents are averaging 4.5 second-chance points per game.SPARTANS VERSUS THE PAC-12San Jose State beat Oregon, 75-72, in Eugene on Nov. 20, 2010 for its last win against a Pac-12 foe. The last meeting with Washington State in 2014, was SJSU's last time facing a Pac-12 opponent. The Spartans are 35-125 all-time against current Pac-12 members.LAST MEETING WITH WASHINGTON STATEThere was nothing too amazing about the last meeting between the Cougars and Spartans on Dec. 21, 2014, which ended in an 82-53 Washington State win. What stands out is the leap that SJSU's program has taken since that game and that season. The Spartans' roster was down to nine players in that game, one of which was an active tight end for the football team. SJSU finished 2014-15 with a 2-28 record and zero wins against Division I opponents. The next year, the Spartans won nine games, beat three teams that had reached the NCAA Tournament the year before, and had Brandon Clarke recognized as the Mountain West's Sixth-Man of the Year.SERIES HISTORY WITH WASHINGTON STATESan Jose State is 2-8 all-time against the Cougars. WSU extended its win streak to five games with an 82-53 win over SJSU in the last meeting on Dec. 21, 2014. The Spartans' last win came on Dec. 5, 1990 in San Jose by a score of 70-69. The series dates back to December 21, 1970 when Washington State won the first-ever meeting, 60-59.