Spartans Finish MW Schedule at Air Force SaturdaySpartans Finish MW Schedule at Air Force Saturday
Terrell Lloyd

Spartans Finish MW Schedule at Air Force Saturday

San José State (18-12, 9-8 MW) at Air Force (14-16, 5-12 MW)
When Saturday, March 4 | 1:00 p.m. PT
Location Clune Arena | USAFA, Colo.
Broadcast & Statistics Altitude TV (DirecTV 681),Fubo, and Charter Communications
Mountain West Network
KTRB 860 AM
Live Stats
Game Notes San José State | Air Force
Rosters San José State | Air Force


San José State plays the final Mountain West game of the 2022-23 season as the team travels to Air Force for a Saturday afternoon game. The Spartans bring a two-game winning streak into the game, while Air Force has lost its previous two games to Fresno State (74-69) and at UNLV (54-53).

San José State enters the game with a 18-12 overall record and 9-8 MW mark after defeating Colorado State, 63-46, Tuesday evening. SJSU is fifth in the MW standings, one game ahead of the Lobos, but UNM holds the tiebreaker after winning both meetings this season. With a Spartan win, SJSU would clinch the fifth seed at the MW Championship.

ABOUT AIR FORCE:  The Falcons enter the game with a 14-16 overall record and 5-12 MW mark. The team is tied for ninth place in the conference standings with Colorado State. Air Force last played on Friday the 24th when the team fell at UNLV 54-53. Head coach Joe Scott is in his third year of his second stint at the helm of the Air Force program. 
Series Record - 10-13
Record at USAFA vs. Air Force - 3-7
First Meeting - Dec. 6, 1971, W, 74-67, at Air Force
Earlier Meeting - The Spartans 82-52 in San Jose on January 24, as Omari Moore scored 26 points. The 30-point victory is the largest for SJSU in a MW game since joining the conference in 2013-14.
Last Win at USAFA - The Spartans have not won at Air Force since the 2016-17 season. SJSU won 89-85 on January 14, 2017. Brandon Clarke scored 36 points in the game that featured 15 lead changes.
Last 10 Series Meetings
1/26/2019 L-2OT 73-71 San Jose
2/23/2019 L 82-68 USAFA
3/13/2019 L 87-56 Las Vegas
1/25/2020 W 90-81 San Jose
2/15/2020 L 95-86 USAFA
1/28/2021 W 59-58 Phoenix
1/30/2021 W 75-62 Phoenix
1/25/2022 L 63-53 San Jose
3/1/2022 L 58-54 USFA
1/24/2023 W 82-52 San Jose

NET RANKINGS (as of 3/3): The Spartans are currently ranked 96 in the NET Rankings after games played on March 2. SJSU has Quadrant 1 wins over Boise State and Utah State, Quadrant 2 wins over Santa Clara, Colorado State, and UNLV, Quadrant 3 wins over Ball State, UNLV, Colorado State, Air Force, and Northern Colorado and seven Quadrant 4 wins.

CARDENAS, DEFENSE KEYS TO WIN OVER COLORADO STATE: Alvaro Cardenas led the Spartans with 16 points, and San José State held Colorado State to a season-low points as the Spartans won 63-46 in the team's final home game of the season at the Provident Credit Union Event Center.

Two other Spartans scored in double figures - Omari Moore, 14; and Trey Anderson, 13. The Spartans grabbed a season-high nine steals and blocked seven shots in the win.
 

18 WINS TAKES THE SPARTANS TO NEW HEIGHTS: The Spartans recorded 18 wins in a season for the first time since the 1980-81 season when the team had a 22-9 record. The program has only won 17 or more games six times since 1975-76. 
Seasons With 17+ Wins Since 1975-76
1975-76 17-10
1976-77 17-12
1979-80 17-12
1980-81 22-9
2010-11 17-16
2022-23 18-12

MOST MW WINS EVER/MOST CONFERENCE WINS SINCE 1995-96: With nine Mountain West wins this season, the Spartans have reached another plateau, recording the most MW wins in school history and the most since the 1995-96 season. The 2016-17 team recorded seven MW wins, which stood until SJSU defeated Boise State, 74-68 in overtime on February 25. 


UP NEXT: The Spartans await the announcement of the 2023 MW Championship bracket late Saturday evening once all the games are completed. The Spartans first opponent and game time will be announced then. The men's tournament takes place March 8-11 at the Thomas & Mack Center.


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