Can the Spartans Bounce Back After a Tough Loss at Thomas & Mack Center?

The San Jose State Spartans faced a challenging contest against the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, ending with a score of 68-50 in favor of the home team. The Spartans now stand with an overall season record of 0-1, while the Runnin' Rebels enjoy their first victory, moving to 1-0.

At the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the San Jose State Spartans struggled to find their rhythm against a formidable UNLV defense. The game started off slow for the Spartans who managed only 18 points in the first half compared to UNLV's 33. Despite picking up pace and adding another 32 points in the second half, it was not enough to close down on UNLV's consistent performance which saw them scoring another 35 points after halftime.

The offensive efforts of San Jose State were hampered by their shooting percentages; they shot just 32 percent from field goals and an underwhelming 19 percent from beyond the arc. However, they excelled at free throws where they achieved an impressive rate of making twelve out of thirteen attempts. In contrast, UNLV posted a field goal percentage equal to that of San Jose State but had better success with three-pointers hitting six out of twenty-one attempts.

Defensively, both teams showed prowess around the rim but it was UNLV who dominated with ten blocks over San Jose State's single block throughout the game. The rebounding battle also went in favor of UNLV as they collected forty-four rebounds compared to twenty-eight by San Jose State.

Key players for San Jose State contributed significantly despite falling short on victory; there were six steals and twelve assists which showcased their ability to create opportunities even under pressure. They also capitalized on turnovers scoring fifteen points off them thanks to aggressive defensive play leading to fifteen total turnovers by their opponents.

Looking ahead for fans eager to support their team, The San Jose State Spartans will host Utah State Aggies at Provident Credit Union Event Center located in San Jose California on March 6th at 8:30 PM local time. This upcoming match can be watched live on CBS Sports Network as both teams aim for success in this conference game.