Nov. 22, 2017
San Jose, Calif.----- Guards Jaycee Hillsman scored 15 points and Isaiah Nichols added a career-high 14 points as San Jose State University defeated Idaho State University, 62-54, in a non-conference men's basketball game.
Forward Ryan Welage, the leading scorer in the Mountain West at 22.0 points per game, was limited to a season low 10 points in the Spartans' win that ended a three-game losing streak.
Hillsman had a nine-point burst midway through the first-half on a pair of three-point baskets sandwiching a conventional 3-point play to put the Spartans ahead to stay. His drive to the goal and free throw gave San Jose State (2-3) a 15-12 lead with 8:28 remaining in the first half. The Spartans took a 22-15 advantage into the locker room at halftime as both teams had trouble finding the basket.
Nichols was 0-for-3 for the season from 3-point range, but made 4-of-5 3-pointers in the win. Despite shooting 39.6 percent for the game, San Jose State had its best 3-point shooting night of the season converting 46.2 percent of their tries (6-of-13).
Idaho State (0-4) had its worst shooting game of the early season making just 31.5 percent of its tries and scoring a season-low 54 points. The Bengals were cold from start to finish making just 6-of-24 from the field in the first half.
Jared Stutzman, playing in his first game of the season, led Idaho State with 12 points. Geno Luzcando and Gary Chivichyan each scored 10 for the Bengals.
San Jose State outrebounded Idaho State, 44-30. Center Ashtin Chastain led the Spartans with eight rebounds.
The Spartans head out for a four-game road trip starting with Bowling Green on November 29 and stopping at Southern Illinois and Denver before concluding with Portland on December 9.