SAN JOSE, Calif. – Forward Michael Steadman was one of three San José State players in double-figure scoring with team high of 16 points and seven rebounds, but UNLV prevailed in the end for a 71-64 Mountain West men's basketball win over the Spartans.
Freshman guard Zach Chappell had his most complete game of the season for the Spartans with 11 points and season-highs of nine assists and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Brae Ivey also scored in double figures for San Jose State (3-21, 0-12 Mountain West) with 10.
Noah Baumann hit just one 3-point basket, but it was enough to give him the outright school record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer made with 22.
Joel Ntambwe of UNLV (14-11, 8-5 Mountain West) led all players in scoring with 20 points. Ntawbwe made a season-high five three-point baskets as the Rebels swept the conference season series with the Spartans. Amauri Hardy added 15 points before fouling out with 39.2 seconds to go.
San José State led at halftime, 31-28, and could have had a bigger lead if it had made its free throws. The Spartans were 2-of-10 in the first half and 8-of-21 for the game. UNLV finished the game 18-for-26 from the free throw line and made seven of their last eight in the final minute for the win.
There were 12 lead changes in a game in which neither team had a double-digit advantage. San José State last led, 48-46, with 10:05 remaining after an Ivey three-point basket. UNLV went on an 11-2 run for a 57-50 lead with 5:17 to go. The Spartans never got closer than four points, 61-57 with 2:19 on the clock.
San José State shot 41.3 percent from the field and limited UNLV to 34.4 percent field goal shooting, the second poorest figure by the Runnin' Rebels in a conference contest this season. The Spartans were charged with a season low nine turnovers in the loss.
San José State returns to The Event Center, Wednesday, February 20 hosting Colorado State in a 7:00 p.m. Mountain West game.