Dec. 15, 2016
SPARTANS HOST BOWLING GREEN SUNDAY AFTERNOONSpartan fans have a chance to see something that hasn't happened since 1950 when the San José State men's basketball team takes on Bowling Green State University inside the Event Center Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (PT). Tickets for the game are available now at the Spartan Ticket Office - Call the office right now at 408-924-7589. The contest will also be streamed live on the Mountain West Network, and can be heard on KLIV 1590 AM and KSJS 90.5 FM. The men's game kicks off a Spartan basketball doubleheader which features the SJSU women's basketball team taking on Stanislaus State at 4:30 p.m. (PT).
Game #10San José State (5-4) vs. Bowling Green (4-6)Sunday, December 18, 2016, 2:00 p.m. (PT)The Event Center (5,000)San Jose, Calif.Tickets: Spartan Ticket OfficeStreaming Video: Mountain West NetworkRadio: KLIV 1590 AM | KSJS 90.5 FMOFF THE TOPSan José State and Bowling Green have met just once, resulting in a 49-48 Spartan victory on February 3, 1950 ... The Spartans are 6-6 all-time versus the 12 current members of the Mid-American Conference, with no more than three meetings against a single member ... Both teams come into Sunday's game having won four of the last six games ... Sunday's game will be the first for both teams since the player's completed their finals for the fall term ... The Spartans are 3-2 at home while the Falcons are 0-4 on the road in 2016-17 ... Cody Schwartz enters in after a season-high 17 points and five made 3-pointers in the last outing against Life Pacific College.
Cody Schwartz HAS ARRIVEDCody Schwartz (6-8, So., F, De Pere, Wis.) had been struggling to find his shot in the early goings of 2016-17, but it was found in the Spartans' 109-70 win over Life Pacific College. Schwartz knocked down a season-high five 3-pointers for a season-high 17 points. He had made 4-of-20 from downtown on the year leading up to that game. Schwartz began last season in a similar slump, but turned on the jets to become the Mountain West's freshman leader in made three-point baskets.SPARTANS TIE PROGRAM RECORDSan José State recorded 30 assists on 39 made baskets in the win over Life Pacific. The mark tied the single-game record set in 2001 against Holy Names and became the new 2016-17 high among Mountain West teams.
FIVE SINGLE-GAME HIGHS IN THE MOUNTAIN WESTSan José State owns five single-game highs so far this year in the Mountain West:- 30 assists vs. Life Pacific College, 12/10- 12 field goals made by Brandon Clarke vs. Portland, 11/15- 26 field goals attempted by Brandon Clarke vs. Portland, 11/15- 10 assists by Isaiah Nichols vs. Portland, 11/15- 6 blocks by Brandon Clarke at Idaho, 11/29
MOVING UP THE CAREER RANKSBrandon Clarke (6-8, So., F, Phoenix, Ariz.) and Isaac Thornton (6-3, Sr., G, Houston, Texas) are climbing their way up the San José State career lists as games go on in 2016-17. Clarke is currently eighth all-time on the career-blocks list with 56. He is three swats away from jumping up into sixth all-time where Lance Holloway (2004, 06-08) and Kevin Logan (1990-93) currently sit. Thornton has 124 career steals and is two shy of taking sole possession of second all-time on the career steals list. Justin Graham (2007-11) is the program's career leader by far with 209 steals.
HILLSMAN NOTCHES DOUBLE-DOUBLEJaycee Hillsman (6-6, So., G, Champaign, Ill.) continued an excellent stretch of basketball with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Life Pacific. In the last six games Hillsman is shooting 69.2 percent (18-26) from the floor while averaging 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. Hillsman is one of a handful of Spartans which have performed well in both roles as a starter and a reserve. A new approach to attacking the basket this season has been one of his biggest improvement from his freshman season. He finished last year shooting 31.0 percent, and is currently at a team-high 55.8 percent this year. He's also the teams best free throw shooter at 88.9 percent.
CLARKE & WELAGE LEAD THE WAYThe Spartans have been led in scoring by somebody other than Brandon Clarke and Ryan Welage (6-9, So., F, Greensburg, Ind.) just one time - E.J. Boyce's 20 points in the season-opening win over West Coast Baptist. Clarke has had three double-doubles, and nearly a fourth with his 18 points and nine rebounds in the last outing against Life Pacific. His strength and leaping ability around the basket have been on display in nearly every game, while Welage has improved his touch on the mid-range jumper and remains the team's leading three-point shooter.
KNOW YOUR ROLECoach Dave Wojcik has been able to use Gary Williams, Jr. (6-5, Sr., G, Vallejo, Calif.) in a multitude of ways this season. Williams has started four games and come off the bench for three. He was a part of the starting lineup during the three-game win streak over Washington State, Idaho and Santa Clara. Williams hasn't played more than 22 minutes in any single game, but he has found a way to make an impact in every contest. Last time out, three of his four assists were kick-outs to Cody Schwartz for 3-pointers - the other was a lob off the backboard to a soaring Brandon Clarke for a dunk. Williams' season-high 12 points came at Washington State when he was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time - SJSU defeated WSU by 12, 88-76.
RELEASE THE HAWKBrandon Mitchell (6-6, Jr., F, Memphis, Tenn.), aka the hawk, has been a spark off the bench in limited minutes throughout the year. After redshirting last season, Mitchell has returned to average 3.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. While the numbers don't jump out at you, subtle moments like his 3-ball that ignited an 18-0 run in the Santa Clara win, and his pair of blocks which helped the Spartans increase a three-point lead to 11 points at Washington State, have been turning points during games. Mitchell is averaging 11.0 minutes per game, but has made the most of his playing time throughout the first nine contests.
TOPS IN THE MW FOR TURNOVER MARGINSan José State owns the Mountain West's best turnover margin at +2.6. The Spartans are forcing a league-leading 15.7 turnovers per game on their opponents and the team's 7.7 steals per game is second among the 11-team conference.
MORE MOUNTAIN WEST RANKINGSSan José State leads the league with an average of 12.2 offensive rebounds per game. Overall, the Spartans are second in the MW with a +5.4 rebounding margin. Other per-game team rankings among the conference's top-five include: scoring offense (68.9 - 5th), Steals (7.7 - 2nd), and 3-pointers made per game (7.6 - 4th).