Vaihola Hits Game-Winning Shot In 67-65 Victory Over Ball State SundayVaihola Hits Game-Winning Shot In 67-65 Victory Over Ball State Sunday
Ava Miles

Vaihola Hits Game-Winning Shot In 67-65 Victory Over Ball State Sunday

Box Score

NASSAU, Bahamas—Robert Vaihola hit the game-winning shot with 1.7 seconds remaining and grabbed the inbounds pass to steal the ball and secure the 67-65 victory for the San José State men's basketball team over Ball State in the fifth place game of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in Nassau.
 

  • Vaihola and Omari Moore each scored 15 points to lead the Spartans.
  • Vaihola was a key contributor for the Spartans (6-2) in the second half, scoring 13 of his 15 points in 11 minutes of the second half.
  • He grabbed five offensive rebounds in the second half, none bigger than the one off of Moore's layup with under five seconds remaining in the game. Vaihola grabbed the board and put it back for the game-winner with 1.7 seconds left.
  • After a Ball State timeout, the Cardinal tried to throw the ball the length of the court, but the pass went straight to Vaihola for the steal and seal the win for SJSU.
  • The Spartans had five players score in double figures, the most since six scored in double-figures in a Portland win in December of 2021.
  • Moore and Vaihola each had 15 points, followed by Trey Anderson with 11 and Ibrahima Diallo and Alvaro Cardenas with 10 each.
  • Vaihola led the Spartans with eight rebounds (5 offensive, 3 defensive), followed by Sage Tolbert III with seven and Cardenas with six.
  • Diallo scored in double figures for the first time this season while blocking two shots and grabbing four rebounds.
  • The Spartans led 31-24 at halftime, and the two teams battled back and forth in the second half with eight lead changes. Ball State made a run and had a 63-62 lead with 1:28 left in the game before SJSU scored five of the final seven points for the win.
  • Miles was coaching against his former assistant and current Ball State head coach Michael Lewis. Lewis was Miles' assistant for three years at Nebraska.

 

UP NEXT – After returning from the Bahamas, the Spartans will travel to Arkansas for a Saturday afternoon matinee with the ninth-ranked Razorbacks. Game time is 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT.
 

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