Spartans Stun Hofstra In Season Opener With 79-71 VictorySpartans Stun Hofstra In Season Opener With 79-71 Victory

Spartans Stun Hofstra In Season Opener With 79-71 Victory

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. –It took just one game of the 2019-20 season for San Jose State men's basketball head coach Jean Prioleau to pick up his signature win of his Spartan career. The Spartans defeated Hofstra, an 18-point favorite coming off a 27-win season, 79-71 inside the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
 
The win was SJSU's first road victory since 2017 and first win on the East Coast since 2001.
 
"I'm really proud of our guys, those guys stuck together," Prioleau said. "It's been a long journey. The guys battled. We were actually down and made some substitutions to get right back in the game. I think we have something special. We shot 47 percent for the game and 30 percent from three-point range. We out-rebounded them 47-33, which is unbelievable. We beat a team that won 27 games last year on their home court. That says a lot, that's going to send a shockwave around the nation."
 
Trailing 69-67 with 3:32 to play, junior Richard Washington knocked down the first of three consecutive three-point baskets to put the Spartans (1-0) in control of the game. SJSU finished the game on a 12-2 run to close it out.
 



 


Washington, a transfer from Tallahassee Community College, shined in his Spartan debut, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds. He was one of four Spartans to score in double figures. Craig LeCesne tacked on a career-high 19 points and 11 boards for his first double-double of the season. Seneca Knight (13) and Brae Ivey (10) also broke the double-digit plateau in the win.
 
After an even first half that finished with Hofstra (0-1) holding a 35-34 lead, the teams continued to exchange blows through the first 10 minutes of the second half. Neither team found much success from three-point range for the first 30 minutes, until Hofstra's Tareq Coburn rattled off back-to-back treys to give the Pride a 53-48 lead with 10:14 to play. Hofstra extended their lead to as much as eight at the 7:07 mark before a clutch 3-ball by Ivey stopped the bleeding.
 
Knight followed with a fast break layup and Washington nailed a jump shot to give SJSU the lead at 65-63 with 4:36 to play. Washington then took over from there to hit clutch shot after clutch shot to close the door on the Pride. Washington scored 12 of his 23 points in the final four minutes.
 
"It was an exciting game," Washington said. "We knew coming in what they were. We just had to stay composed. We knew they were going to go on runs. They had one late in the game where they went up by like eight or nine. I just told the guys that we didn't need to panic and stay composed. We were right there. This is what we do and what we love. We got it done."
 
With the win, SJSU receives a major boost of momentum as they head back to San Jose to host their home opener against Portland on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.