Can the Spartans Rebound from University Credit Union Pavilion Setback?

In a contest that saw the San Jose State Spartans fall to the Saint Mary's Gaels, both teams entered with unranked status. The final score read 70-52 in favor of the home team, reflecting a game where the Gaels capitalized on their opportunities more effectively than their opponents.

The San Jose State Spartans faced a challenging matchup at University Credit Union Pavilion against the Saint Mary's Gaels. Throughout four quarters of play, the Spartans struggled to find their rhythm, managing only 6 points in the opening quarter and trailing behind with 11 points by halftime. Their efforts intensified in subsequent quarters as they scored 16 and then 19 points but were unable to close the gap created by a dominant Gaels side.

Offensively, San Jose State showed promise inside with an impressive 30 points in paint contributions. Their shooting from two-point range was efficient at a rate of 53 percent; however, they struggled beyond the arc making just three out of twenty-two attempts for a lowly fourteen percent three-point shooting performance. The free-throw line offered some respite where they achieved sixty-nine percent accuracy.

Defensively, San Jose State demonstrated tenacity with five blocks and twelve steals throughout the game. They also managed eleven assists but were hindered by an assist-turnover ratio of only 0.61 due to committing twenty-two turnovers themselves – an area that proved costly against a disciplined Saint Mary's team.

The Gaels' performance was marked by better ball distribution which resulted in seventeen assists and fewer turnovers leading to an assist-turnover ratio of one – significantly higher than that of San Jose State. Additionally, Saint Mary's excelled at capitalizing on turnovers scoring thirty-six points off Spartan mistakes while also showcasing proficiency from both free throw line at eighty-six percent and three-point territory hitting thirty-nine percent.

Saint Mary's outrebounded San Jose State with thirty-five total rebounds compared to twenty-seven for their opponents which included thirteen offensive boards contributing to ten second-chance points for them.

Looking ahead after this setback on foreign ground, fans can anticipate seeing how San Jose State will regroup when they host Fresno State Bulldogs at Provident Credit Union Event Center located in San Jose on January third at seven PM Pacific Time. This upcoming encounter will be available for viewing as it unfolds live before an eager audience seeking redemption for their beloved team.