SAN JOSE, Calif. – San José State men's basketball dropped their first game of the season on Saturday, falling to Southern Utah 66-59 in the Event Center.
After an even first half that resulted in a 31-31 tie at the break, junior Craig LeCesne carried the Spartans with nine points in just under four minutes of game time and scored a layup with 9:19 to play to give SJSU their largest lead of the game at seven at 51-44.
The Spartans (1-1), however, were unable to take control of the game and saw their lead disappear as Southern Utah (2-0) finished the game on a 25-11 run to close things out. SJSU shot just 35 percent from the floor (17-for-48) while the Thunderbirds shot a 41 percent clip (28-of-68).
Both teams struggled from 3-point range with the Spartans finishing 5-for-17 (29 percent) and Southern Utah 3-for-18 (17 percent). The Thunderbirds held a decisive advantage in points off turnovers as they scored 22 points off 10 SJSU turnovers. The Spartans finished with just two points off 19 turnovers.
LeCesne with a career-high 15 points to lead the Spartans while Michael Steadman came just one point shy of recording his second-straight double-double with nine points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
Southern Utah was led by Cameron Oluyitan's 15 points and finished with 45 rebounds to the Spartans' 34.
Up next for SJSU is a long trip east to the Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam. The Spartans will play Weber State in the opening round on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m. PT.
