San Jose, Calif.----- Guard Noah Baumann and center Oumar Barry scored career-highs of 23 and 17 points, respectively, as San Jose State University posted a 79-74 comeback win over Northern Arizona University in a non-conference men's basketball game.
Baumann scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half as the Spartans (3-6) posted their first two-game winning streak since posting four consecutive victories during 2017 Mountain West conference action. The sophomore guard, who missed the first four minutes of the game for disciplinary reasons, was 5-of-6 from three-point range, a single-game career best, and 7-of-9 from the field overall. His third three-pointer of the second half gave San Jose State its first lead of the night, 51-50, with 10:15 to go.
Barry also pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds for his first double-double in a San Jose State uniform. The Spartans outrebounded the Lumberjacks, 44-28.
Four San Jose State players finished in double-figure scoring as the Spartans posted their season scoring high against a NCAA Division I opponent. Guard Brae Ivey scored 16 and forward Michael Steadman, benched in the first half also for disciplinary reasons, added 10 second-half points. Ivey was 13-of-15 from the free throw line and dished out a season-high seven assists.
San Jose State needed its best free throw shooting night of the season to win the game. The Spartans converted 30-of-38 and made 16-of-20 in the final 5:30.
Barry rebound bucket off of a Steadman miss with 1:34 to go was San Jose State's only basket in the last 5:00 giving the Spartans a 71-69 lead which they would hold on to the remainder of the contest.
Northern Arizona (2-6) went into the second half holding a 40-30 lead, but shot just 10-of-33 from the field the final 20 minutes. The Lumberjacks were hot from the outside in the first connecting on 9-of-18 from three-point range to build their lead, but finished 12-of-32 from beyond the arc.
Guards Bernie Andre and Luke Avdalovic with career-highs of 21 and 20 points, respectively, led Northern Arizona in scoring. Davon Bolton chipped in a season-high with 15 off the bench for the Lumberjacks.
San Jose State returns to action, Tuesday, December 18, traveling to Stanford for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference contest at Maples Pavilion.