Spartans explode in first-half, survive sloppy second-half, takes 86-69 win over USD

If San Jose State needed a response game after the stumble against UC Irvine, they delivered one with authority for at least the first-half.

The Spartans basically opened with their sharpest half of basketball this season, overwhelming San Diego with an avalanche of pace, pressure, and shot-making in an 86–69 win.

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The Spartans shot a blistering 66% in the first half, racing out to a 52–34 half-time lead. Guards Colby Garland and Jermaine Washington combined for 28 before halftime with Yaphet Moundi anchoring the interior with power touches and elite positioning.

It was all Spartans early with a 15-0 opening punch. In the early minutes, Washington opened with a long two-pointer, followed by a three and the race and pace was on. Forward Sadraque NgaNga hammered home a dunk shortly after, while Moundi cashed in free throws to continue the Spartans’ sprint.

With San Jose’s pressure defense, the Toreros didn’t get their first bucket until almost five minutes in.

“I thought we set the tone early. We were very good defensively, very solid offensively; with that big start,” said head coach Tim Miles.

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6’6”, 205 lb forward Adrian Myers finished with a career-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, became the firestarter off the bench with a notable inside-out game.

Every time USD offered a flicker, Myers smothered it. Miles even admitted he nearly subbed Myers out after a pair of turnovers, but in the time Miles had to wait, the sophomore caught fire: “He goes and hits a three then gets another and I’m saying, ‘I can’t take him out now’.”

By halftime, SJSU’s seven-man rotation was humming with three Spartans in double digit scoring. By game’s end, four Spartans were in double figures.

But the second-half was something else for the Spartans.

USD opened 2-for-9, but once they found rhythm, the Torero’s full-court presses and half-court traps junked the game up for the Spartans; ultimately forcing SJSU into 18 turnovers…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/spartans-explode-first-half-survive-071941840.html

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Publish date : 2025-12-06 07:19:00

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