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Carlos Ramirez, UNM Athletics

Balanced Scoring Leads Spartans To First MW Win

ST. GEORGE, Utah – San Jose State men's basketball, presented by Provident Credit Union, used a balanced offensive attack with five players finishing with at least 14 points to power their way to their first win in Mountain West play in 2020-21 with an 83-71 win over New Mexico on Saturday inside Burns Arena.
 
The win is the first by the Spartans against a Mountain West opponent outside of San Jose since February 11, 2017, when SJSU defeated UNLV 76-74 in Las Vegas. The 12-point margin of victory is also SJSU's largest over a conference opponent since a 65-53 win over Fresno State on February 3, 2016.
 

 
Playing without leading scorer Richard Washington, the Spartans shot 53.4 percent (31-of-58) from the floor, including 10-of-23 from beyond the arc to improve to 3-11, 1-9 MW. Four Spartans – Ralph Agee, Sebastian Mendoza, Trey Smith and Jalen Dalcourt – all finished with 16 points while Omari Moore finished 7-of-9 from the field for 14 points. It is the first time since Jan. 20, 2020 against Air Force that five players have finished in double-figures.
 
Moore stuffed the stat sheet by also pulling down 10 rebounds, dished out five assists and made three steals. His 14 point, 10 board total gives the sophomore from Pasadena his second double-double of the season.
 

 
After a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes that saw New Mexico take a 35-33 lead into the locker room, San Jose State quickly took the lead for the first time on a Dalcourt 3-ball just two minutes into the second half. The lead changed three more times on the following three possessions before the Spartans scored six unanswered to take a 3-point lead at 47-44 with 15:24 remaining. SJSU never lost the lead again.
 
New Mexico cut the deficit down to one with 9:49 remaining, but the Spartans had an answer and rattled off six-straight punctuated by a dunk from Moore to grab a seven-point advantage. SJSU capitalized on poor shooting from the Lobos the rest of the way and cruised to as much as a 16-point lead inside the final two minutes before settling for the 12-point victory.
 
Mendoza's 16 points were a career-best for the freshman. He was light's out with a 5-for-5 shooting performance from the field, including four triples. Smith's 16 points were also a career-high. The junior led all scorers with 12 points at the halftime break with four 3-pointers. Agee pulled down seven rebounds to go with his 16 points as he continued his big play as of late.
 
The Spartans forced 15 New Mexico turnovers in which they turned into 18 points. Conversely, they did well to hold on to the ball themselves, committing just seven turnovers on the evening.
 

 
New Mexico was led by Valdir Manuel, who finished with a game-high 25 points on 12-of-20 shooting. The Lobos finished the game 31-of-62 from the floor but converted just five 3-pointers to the Spartans' 10.

San Jose State will look to keep the winning ways going when they welcome Air Force to Phoenix for a two-game series beginning Thursday, January 28.


 
 SPARTAN ATHLETICS FUND FAN CUTOUTS:
Spartan Nation, don't miss your chance to be represented in the stands in Phoenix this season. If interested in a cardboard cutout, follow this link to register!