Student-Athlete of the Week - December 15, 2008

Name: Tim Pierce
Sport: Men's Basketball
Year: Senior
Position: Forward

Tim Pierce has been named the Spartan Foundation Student Athlete of the Week for his performance in the men’s basketball team’s victory at the University of San Diego, 56-52, on December 8.

Pierce matched his career scoring high for the second time this season with a game-high 23 points. The win was the first by a Spartan team in seven years over a non-conference opponent that appeared in the previous season's NCAA Tournament. San Diego reached the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Pierce had his best shooting game of the season. He was 7-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and made all four of his free throws. Pierce came into the game shooting 57.1 percent from the free throw line and was 100 percent from 15 feet unguarded for the first time in a game this season.

Just as important, the 6-foot-7 forward was an impeccable 5-for-5 from 3-point range in the second half as he single-handedly represented more than 67 percent of San Jose State's offensive output. Pierce scored 21 of his 23 points after halftime and 21 of the team's 31 points in the second half.

Pierce erased San Diego's largest lead of the game, six points early in the second half, with his first 3-point basket of the game and a 3-point play on consecutive possessions. After the Toreros built their lead back to five points, 38-33 with 16:44 remaining, he fired three more 3-point baskets through the twine to give the Spartans their first second-half advantage. His 4-point play with 7:02 left in the game broke a 44-44 tie and his two free throws with 1:34 to go tied the game at 52-52.

Pierce also pulled down 5 rebounds and received credit for a block and a steal as the Spartans ended a two-game losing streak and evened their season record at 3-3.

Past 2008-09 Spartan Foundation Student-Athletes of the Week
August 25 - Emmy Belding, Women's Soccer
September 2 - Kyle Reed, Football
September 8 - Emily Burke, Volleyball
September 15 - Erica Moston, Women's Golf
September 22 - Hiroki Akiyama, Men's Soccer
September 29 - Jared Strubeck, Football
October 6 - Kelly Crow, Volleyball
October 13 - Heather Denman, Women's Swimming
October 20 - Carl Ihenacho, Football
October 27 - Jay Myers, Men's Golf
November 3 - Jared Strubeck, Football
November 10 - Nick Cukar, Men's Soccer
November 17 - Ricky Dorrego, Men's Soccer
November 24 - Heather Denman, Women's Swimming
December 1 - Natalie White, Women's Basketball
December 8 - Heather Denman, Women's Swimming
December 15 - Tim Pierce, Men's Basketball