San Jose, Calif.----- Forward Michael Steadman was San Jose State University's only double-figure scorer with 18 points as the Spartans lost their Mountain West opener, 73-53, to Fresno State.
Center Oumar Barry, who finished with five points, his first game in the last seven he was unable to finish in double figure scoring, scored San Jose State's first and last baskets of the first half. His hook shot in the lane gave the Spartans their only lead of the night, 2-0. His last basket, a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 6:34 mark pulled San Jose State (3-10, 0-1 Mountain West) to 29-25, the closest it would be for the rest of the game.
With its best first half shooting for the season, Fresno State (10-3, 1-0 Mountain West) scored the last 18 points to take a 47-25 lead going into intermission. The Bulldogs shot 60.7 percent from the field and converted 8-of-14 from three-point range in the first 20 minutes.
Fresno State cooled off in the second half. The Bulldogs finished shooting 51.9 percent for the game and was just 3-of-15 from outside the arc in the last 20 minutes.
The Spartans got as close as 60-47 with 8:19 to go after a Steadman basket, but a three-point play by Nate Grimes who led all players with 19 points and Noah Blackwell's season-high fifth three-point basket with 6:27 on the clock gave Fresno State a necessary cushion to the finish.
San Jose State converted just 35.3 percent of its field goal tries in its third loss in a row. It was the second consecutive game the Spartans were unable to convert 40 percent of their field goal tries and scored fewer than 60 points.
Blackwell finished with 17 points. Guards Johnny McWilliams with 13 and New Williams with 10 gave Fresno State four double-figure scorers.
Steadman also finished with 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season and third in the Spartans' last four contests.
San Jose State returns to action next Wednesday, January 9, at the University of Nevada in a 7:00 p.m. game.
