Fresno, Calif.----- San Jose State University had its best shooting first half of the season converting 60 percent of its field goal tries including 5-of-10 from three-point range.
The Spartans even finished making 50.9 percent of its field goals.
Neither was enough as Fresno State set a Mountain West record converting 23 three-point baskets in a 121-81 men's basketball victory in the concluding conference game for both teams.
The Bulldogs' point total is the most scored against the Spartans in a game. Fresno State (22-8, 13-5 Mountain West) scored its first 10 baskets from outside the arc and was 16-of-26 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. The Bulldogs were 23-of-38 for game. Overall, Fresno State shot a season-high 64.5 percent for the game.
San Jose State (4-26, 1-17 Mountain West) had five leads between one and three points in the first eight minutes of the game before the avalanche of Bulldog three-points overwhelmed the Spartans. Fresno State only made three more field goals than San Jose State in the first half, but held a commanding 59-40 lead.
Michael Steadman led the Spartans with 21 points and nine rebounds. Freshman Seneca Knight posted his conference scoring high of 15 and guard Noah Baumann scored 11. Baumann tied the school single-season record for three-point baskets made at 78 with his third and final three-pointer in the game with 2:00 to go. By then, San Jose State was trailing, 116-78.
On Senior Night in the Save Mart Center, senior guards Deshon Taylor and Braxton Huggins combined for 71 points and posted career highs for Fresno State. Taylor poured in 37, 23 of them in the second half. Huggins scored 21 of his 34 in the first half, all on three-point baskets. His 10 three-pointers tied a Mountain West record by one player.
Junior Noah Blackwell was a third Fresno State guard with a career scoring high. His 25 points consisted of 7-of-8 from long-distance.
San Jose State, which closed the regular season with three conference losses, opens Mountain West tournament action, Wednesday, March 13, against Air Force, in a 4:00 p.m. (PT) game.
