Spartans win in Hawaii 73-61

It was a night in which it seemed neither team was going to run away from the other. But San Jose State initiated the first sprint, going on a 16-4 run to jump ahead 53-42 at the 7:58 mark of the second half.

Hawaii regrouped and cut the lead in half but the Spartans stretched the lead to 11 again and led 59-48 with 3:55 remaining.

It was Justin Graham's explosions that led the bursts as the sophomore backcourter penetrated the paint at will. Graham tied the game at 39 with a putback of his own shot and his three subsequent free throws gave San Jose State its first lead.

The largest Spartan lead was 14.

Graham led four Spartans in double figure scoring with 19 points, joined by Tim Pierce's 13, Robert Owens' 13 and Mac Peterson earned his season high point total with 10.

It was also a contest with more San Jose State free throws than Hawaii and more makes at the foul line.

At the half, Hawaii had a four-point lead at 29-25. Owens led SJSU after 20 minutes with 10 points on 4-7 shooting.

Hawaii jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead and it was 14-5 at the 11:45 mark. With 5:57 on the clock, the Rainbow Warriors led 20-14 on 9-18 shooting from the floor. The Spartans were 6-20.

It was 22-19 with 3:26 remaining as Hawaii began having difficulty beating the 35 second clock with shot attempts.

Adrian Oliver is preparing to try for Thursday's game against visiting Utah State.

Some analysis will be offered tomorrow.

Spartans to hula with Hawaii Saturday night

Like the lengthy time off Bakersfield enjoyed, Hawaii has been off since playing Idaho on January 10 -- thus providing ample preparation time. UH also has an 11-game homecourt win streak against San Jose State dating back to 2004.

Hawaii's schedule definitely has a home flavor this season as Bob Nash's team played its first five games on the island and actually 13 of its first 14 took place at the Stan Sheriff Center.

But check out this weirdness: Hawaii lost 70-58 at home to Boise State and also fell on the road to the Broncos but cut the losing deficit in half in Idaho, 54-49. Explain that one.

Also, in its last two games, the Warriors have been unable to each 50 points -- 47 against Idaho and the 49 versus Boise State. Plus, Nash has publicly commented that zone defenses have particularly bothered his team this season.


The Season So Far

Hawaii is 9-7 overall, 1-3 in the WAC, with but one road game in non-conference play. The Rainbow Warriors are 9-2 in the last 11 contests.

11/14/2008 San Francisco L - 70-75
11/16/2008 Cal State Fullerton L - 76-90
11/17/2008 Idaho State W - 67-64
11/24/2008 Iowa State W - 60-5
12/01/2008 Prairie View A&M W - 78-70
12/08/2008 @ Illinois L - 58-68
12/13/2008 Eastern Washington W - 75-55
12/15/2008 Chicago State W - 85-75
12/23/2008 UC Riverside W - 56-46
12/27/2008 Colorado State L - 58-74
12/29/2008 George Washington W - 73-47
12/30/2008 Pepperdine W - 78-70
01/03/2009 Boise State L - 58-70
01/05/2009 Louisiana Tech W - 65-64
01/08/2009 @ Idaho L - 47-67
01/10/2009 @ Boise State L - 49-54

As highlighted, notice the under-fifty point totals versus Idaho and Boise State -- is this a trend or an anomaly?

Bob Nash's Starting Five

Hawaii has employed a different starting lineup ineach of the last three games so it's anyone's guess who will open the game.

Paul Campbell 6-10 junior 2.9 ppg., 3.2 rpg. -- He erupted for a career game against LA TECH -- 13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks -- but has been quiet since then. Campbell actually has more offensive rebounds (25) than defensively (23). Keeping him to his average points and rebounds is a must.

Bill Amis 6-9 junior 9.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg. -- He's a lefty which sometimes causes problems by itself and shows good range as well as craftiness offensively although he isn't a three-point shooter.

Petras Balocka 6-8 junior 10.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg. -- He also has somewhat unique rebounding numbers, 40 on offensive and 57 defensively. His shooting percentages are lower than expected -- 42% overall and 29% on threes for a big with a rep as a shooter.

Lasha Parghalava 6-2 junior 8.5 ppg., 2.1 rpg., 1.3 apg. -- .35% from the floor, 25% from long range, plus 84% at the foul line indicate his range is limited to 15 feet or so but he is the most prolific three-point shooter for Hawaii with 71 attempts.

Roderick Flemings 6-7 junior 17.6 ppg., 5.8 rpg. -- The best player on the team and the leading scorer in the WAC, he is the one true creator and the best athlete for Hawaii. His most remarkable stat is that his rebounding totals are even, 46 offensive and defensive. Shutting him down is next to impossible so the key is keeping him at or near his usual game point total.


Off The Bench

Kareem Nitoto -- He's not much as a shooter but he is a fine athlete and someone who works hard defensively.

Adhar Mayen -- He's another fine athlete, long and lanky, with some scoring ability.

Brandon Adams -- He's limited offensively but a hard worker and another good runner/jumper.


As A Team

*** Overall shooting is about equal as the Bows are at 43% for the season to 42% for opponents

*** But Hawaii is at 28% three-point shooting to 33% for opposing teams

*** Hawaii has about a 6 per game rebounding lead versus oppoinents

*** The Rainbow Warriors are a negative 47 in turnovers and a minus 46 in steals on the season


The Rainbow Warrior Roster (by position, alphabetically)

Kareem Nitoto G 6-2 185 sophomore
Hiram Thompson G 6-2 175 sophomore
Gary Satterwhite Jr. G 6-3 175 freshman
Lasha Parghalava G 6-2 195 junior
Conrad Fitzgerald G 6-5 210 freshman
Beau Albrechtson G 6-4 205 freshman
Leroy Lutu G 6-3 200 freshman
Roderick Flemings G 6-7 210 junior

Ji Xiang F 6-10 240 freshman
Adhar Mayen F 6-8 195 junior
Brandon Adams F 6-7 220 junior
Adam Jespersen F 6-7 210 freshman
Bill Amis F 6-9 220 junior

Petras Balocka C 6-8 250 Junior
Paul Campbell C 6-10 215 junior

The UH roster certainly has an international and Bay Area flavor. Petras Balocka hails from Lithuania, Paul Campbell and Adam Jespersen are Canadian, Lasha Parghalava comes from the Republic of Georgia and Ji Xiang is Chinese.(China). Plus, Adhar Mayen is out of Texas but was born in The Sudan. Kareem Nitito graduated from San Leandro High and Brandon Adams is a transfer from Diablo Valley College in Contra Costa County.

What Else (courtesy of the Hawaii athletics)

Key stat or not: The Rainbow Warriors are 4-0 when shooting 50% or higher but 0-4 when opponents shoot 50% or better.

Will or won't be a factor: Bakersfield grabbed 19 offensive rebounds against SJSU -- UH leads the WAC in offensive rebounding at 13.44 per game.

Plus: UH’s bench has outscored its opponents bench in five of the last six games. For the season, UH is getting 24 percent of its offensive production from the bench (15.6 points per game). San Jose State's bench hasn't been that productive.

UH’s aggression on offense has paid dividends with frequent trips to the free throw line. Hawaii has gone to the line an average of 26.1 times per game, while its opponents are making an average of 19.3 trips. Roderick Flemings has a team-high 111 free throw attempts, an average of 6.9 attempts per game.

UH has missed not having a consistent scorer/shooter in the backcourt.

Meet Joseph Henson

We enjoyed the opportunity of witnessing San Jose State signee 6-8 Joseph Henson yesterday when he and his Pasadena High teammates took on Burroughs High. Above are photos of of Joseph (first) and his coach Tim Tucker (second).

Pasadena tops Burroughs 74-52
Keith Lair
Pasadena Star News
1/14/2009

PASADENA - Burroughs High School basketball coach Art Sullivan thinks his counterpart at Pasadena, Tim Tucker, has found the fountain of height.

"I don't understand. He has the biggest guys in the league every year," Sullivan said.

"I don't know how you can beat anybody with that size. The size isn't just this way (tall), it's this way, too (an arm's span), and on these shorter courts, it is really, really difficult."

Tucker jokingly said, "It must be the water" that has allowed the Bulldogs to consistently have some of the tallest players in the league.

The Bulldogs have eight players taller than the Indians' tallest, 6-foot-3 center Chris Morris, and the height was the difference in Pasadena's 74-52 Pacific League victory on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs play at Burbank on Friday night in a game between the league's final two undefeated teams - both are 4-0.

"In this league, everybody is smaller than us," Tucker said. "It's hard to play against teams that are smaller. You don't know where they're coming from. Our guys are trying to adjust and do the best they can."

The Indians packed in a tight 2-3 zone defense in trying to deny the ball to 6-9 Joseph Henson, 6-8 Travis Flye and 6-9 Steven Adams.

It took time, but the big three eventually got it. The Bulldogs were tied at 20 early in the second quarter when Adams and Henson scored six of Pasadena's points in an 11-0 run to create some distance. The Indians never caught up.

"These deep zones and these smaller teams - you see different defenses at this time of the season and we really don't practice against them," Tucker said. "So you come out here and kind of fix it."

What Tucker did to fix it was switch from a man-to-man defense to a 1-3-1 half-court trap with the score tied at 20.

"We were playing better out of the trap," he said. "We started playing better, slowed them down and got the game under control. Then we got going."

Tucker admitted that the Bulldogs are inconsistent right now, citing the different defenses, illnesses and injuries.

"We are just taking wins as they come these days," he said. "We're a spot team right now. In spots we look really good, and at times we didn't."

Anthony Dixon's initial diary

Earlier we featured a diary from Aalim Moor, a 6-3 point guard at St. Mary's High in Berkeley who signed a letter-of-intent with San Jose State back in November. Here is Anthony Dixon's initial diary to The Rebounders. Anthony is a 6-4 wing playing for Hyde Park (the residential area of President-elect Barack Obama) in Chicago.

Well this being my first diary, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Anthony Dixon and I am a senior at Hyde Park Career High in Chicago, Illinois and also one of the top players in the state.

I feel honored to be able to say that I am a San Jose State Spartan but currently I am a Hyde Park Thunderbird. So far we have been doing very well -- we have a record of 12-3. Those three losses were very tough. The first was against T.F North at Chicago State -- I only had 5 points. The second loss was against North Lawndale, the number one team in the state. It was a great game as our team played very hard but we let it slip away. I had 10 points and 12 rebounds. The third loss was against a team by the name of Curie. That was a very big game and we lost on a buzzer beater -- we played very hard but couldn't come away with it. I believe I had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

We are very good. We always play like a team and most of all we trust in each other. We have 2009 6'3 shooting guard Malcolm Griffin, who is also one of the top players in Illinois and is being recruited by colleges all over the country.

Plus we have 2009 6'6 forward Jerome Moore who is a very versatile player and is also one of the top players in the state as well. Colleges around the country are looking at him too.

We also have two very good point guards who run the team by the name of Martel Jackson and Fabyon Harris. Jackson is a 2009 point guard and about 5-9 but plays like he is 6-4. Many colleges are looking at him as well. Harris is a 2010 hard-working point guard with the ability to score and he hates to lose.

We also have a powerful bench -- Aqui Shareef is one of the top players in the 2011 class, Treyshawn Jones is one of the top players in the 2012 class, Shawn Allen is an elite point guard and many others.

We won our Christmas tournament with Malcolm Griffin, Jerome Moore and myself making the all-tournament team.

We have a great coaching staff -- Donnie Kirksey, Coach O'Quinn, Robert Mabry, and Jason Maclin. All of these coaches have a great deal of experience and have helped me play the way I do today. Other coaches who have also really helped me are Larry Butler, Jason Kent, and Antonio Ross. These coaches really took me up under their wing and always told me that I would be okay and that the college for me was coming.

I was talking to many colleges when San Jose State came in the picture. SJSU stood out the most. Everything about the college fits me and I'm glad that I signed there. The coaching staff couldn't have been any better. They really showed me everything I needed to know and that was good . I'm glad that I can play with the Spartan players and play under that coaching staff. I am also really excited with who I am coming in with: Aalim Moor and Joe Henson. They are two elite players who will really do some big things for San Jose State.

So I know I wrote a lot but this just an introduction and I want to say Happy New Year to everybody reading this and God Bless. Go Spartans.

Some great Spartans have passed

We earlier featured some great memories and accomplishments of Bob Hosfeldt and now there are three other Spartans certainly worthy of attention who have passed.

1/11/2009

Richard James Voris

"Coach," a U.S. Marine Corp veteran of World War II, joined our Lord, Jesus Christ, at 1:45 a.m. December 26, 2008.

Coach was born January 25, 1922, and was a native of Santa Cruz, Calif., where he graduated from Santa Cruz High School. He attended Salinas Junior College and enlisted in the Marines for a four-year tour of duty in the Pacific during World War II.

After the war, he attended San Jose State College, and graduated in 1949. Coach was inducted into the San Jose State Hall of Fame in 1992.

\His first coaching position was at Hanford High School. He then coached at James Lick High School in San Jose, Calif. He was named the head football coach at Hartnell College, where he led the 1952 Hartnell Football Panthers to the Junior Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. In 1953, he led the Panthers to another undefeated season.

In 1954, the Los Angeles Rams signed him to a coaching contract. Then came a move to West Point, N.Y., to coach Army football with Col. Red Blaike. The Green Bay Packers' head coach, Vince Lombardi, made him the personnel director and assistant coach with two World Championship teams.

Coach Voris returned home and joined the San Francisco 49ers. He then went on to coach the Saint Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He retired in 1981 to his "paradise" in Hernando Beach, Fla. He was the beloved husband of 62 years to Idelle; beloved father of Richard James Voris Jr., who joined our Lord December 26, 1967, Susan Voris-Christiansen, and Ronald Michael Voris; grandfather to four loving grandchildren, Cathryn, Candace, Jennifer, and Jeffery; and is also survived by his great-granddaughter, Ava; and his loving pup Dolly.

There will be no services per his request.

+++++

January 8, 2009

Gerald "Jerry" Edward Erich

Our dear friend departed his life January 4, 2009. Born January 22, 1929 in Taft, Calif. to Wesley and Vivian Erich; moved to San Jose at an early age. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, step-parents, wife Dorothy and son Stephen.

Jerry started working in the printing industry at an early age, initially working for his step-father Lawrence Dugdale at the Graphic Arts Press, and also attending San Jose State.

In September 1953 Jerry contracted polio. He was in a coma for 10 days and when he regained consciousness he was paralyzed. He spent the following 18 months in an iron lung at the Santa Clara County Hospital.

For further treatment of respiratory polio he entered the Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, Calif. He spent months there undergoing numerous operations and treatments. While at Rancho, Jerry met his future wife Dorothy Foley, who was also a polio patient.

Following release from the hospital in 1957 Jerry returned to San Jose. Despite resulting long-term physical disabilities from polio, Jerry established Erich Printing & Lithographing. He was President until he retired in 1997.

Jerry was a hard-working and dedicated businessman, putting in many hours of work every day. He published the San Jose State Spartan Daily at one time and several periodicals including Good Packaging Magazine.

After a ten-year absence, Jerry returned to work at Erich Printing and resumed management of the company until 2008 when he decided to retire the business.

Rotary was an important part of his life. He was a proud charter member of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen with 43 years of perfect attendance. He believed deeply in Rotary International and its worldwide efforts to help people. He contributed generously to the Rotary's PolioPlus Program aimed at immunizing the world's children against polio.

Jerry had a strong affinity for the mission of San Jose State University. He was instrumental in the founding of the Packaging Degree Program in the 1980's.

He was a season ticket holder and loyal booster of the Spartans' football and basketball teams and was well known in the athletics department as a Spartan Foundation, Quarterback Club and Rebounders/Hoopsters member. He also held university memberships in the Alumni Association and the Heritage Society.

He is survived by his brother-in-law, Bill Foley and family of Garden Grove, Calif.; caregiver, Lucy Silva, and her husband, Al Silva of San Jose; caregiver Kathy Cummins of Boulder Creek; his good friends, Ray and Audrey Clark of San Jose and their children and grandchildren; his devoted canine companion, Dolly; and many, friends throughout the Bay Area. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.

To honor Jerry's wishes, there will be no services. His ashes will be scattered on the island of Maui at a later date. Memorials may be sent in Jerry's memory to: The Dorothy and Jerry Erich Endowment Fund, in care of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, 16100 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95127.

+++++

Leona Menges (1927-2008)

Born on October 14, 1927 in Anaheim, Calif., Mrs. Menges attended the University of Southern California. She moved to San Jose in 1948 with her husband, Gene Menges, who became San Jose State's star quarterback during the 1948 through 1950 seasons.

While her husband entered the college coaching profession, she raised three children and stayed active playing golf and tennis. In the community, Mrs. Menges was a hospital volunteer and an informational specialist at Mineta San Jose Airport to first-time visitors. For more than 50 years, she could be seen at San Jose State athletics events, particularly those in Spartan Stadium, Municipal Stadium and Blethen Field for baseball, the Civic Auditorium and The Event Center for basketball, and the Spartan Courts for tennis.

"I've known Leona since 1976. She has been one of the most ardent, loyal and enthusiastic supporters of San Jose State athletics. She loved all the sports and took great interest in them. She supported her husband's career through thick and thin. Even after Gene retired (in 1986), she still supported San Jose State with great loyalty," said current San Jose State baseball coach Sam Piraro.

Mrs. Menges passed away at age 81 on December 29, 2008.

and

She is survived by her husband Gene with whom she recently celebrated their 60th anniversary, and their children Gayle, Gregg and Gary. She had seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Leona was born in Anaheim, California on October 14, 1927. The youngest of three children, she was raised on family orange groves and was instilled with the value of hard work at an early age.

She attended USC and subsequently moved to San Jose in 1948 when husband Gene began his illustrious career as a football player and then a coach. She was active in the community enjoying golf and tennis for many years. She saw San Jose grow from a largely agricultural town to the high-tech metropolis that it is today. Her volunteer work at area hospitals and at the airport endeared her to countless people who were fortunate enough to have made her acquaintance.

She was a fixture in the neighborhoods of Almaden and where she most recently resided at The Villages. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and doting great-grandmother. She will be missed by all who knew her. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leona's name to your favorite charity.

Spartans fall 61-55

So those narrow CSU Bakersfield home losses to St. Mary's (six points) and Boise State (four points) weren't the fantasy of a fervent Roadrunner fan's hopeful imagination nor simply unquantified internet rumor.

No, Bakersfield more than showed it belonged in winning 61-55 against San Jose State Monday night, thus preventing the Spartans from pulling off a Highway 99 sweep. SJSU truly found itself in a veritable 'tiger by the tail' situation despite no Buck Owens songs appearing on the Rabobank Center PA system.

There was a definite lack of shooting accuracy on San Jose State's behalf. Aiming and firing in the opening half -- 5 for 24 -- about as well as Dick Cheney on a quail shoot, the Spartans did shoot much better in the second half -- 11 for 21 -- but the game itself actually turned on rebounding.

Bakersfield grabbed 40 boards to 33 for SJSU but almost half --19 -- of the Roadrunners rebound total amazingly came at the offensive end.

17 Spartan turnovers were turned into 21 points by the Runners.

DeShawn Wright led San Jose State in scoring with 17 points and Robert Owens contributed 12.

At the half, the Roadrunners led 29-17. The Spartans had nine turnovers to five for the Runners after 20 minutes plus Bakersfield out-boarded San Jose State 26-19, including 11 offensively in the opening period.

Now it's off to the islands for a Saturday night contest against Hawaii.

Gayle Kludt reminds us...

Let's let Gayle Kludt succinctly sum up the most recent San Jose State win:

Basketball Season Ticket:: $175.00
Rebounders Membership: $50.00
Beating the Bulldogs in Fresno: PRICELESS

A few more Fresno State - San Jose State game thoughts plus a bunch of photos.

Photos in descending order: C.J. Webster, Chris Oakes, Robert Owens, John Williams and Justin Graham.

The Spartans put up 14 more shots than Fresno State, 69 to 55.

Neither team did well from long distance. SJSU shot 2-16, the Bulldogs 6-26 but Fresno State also went just 8-18 from the foul line.

San Jose State earned 18 assists on its 28 baskets, a very nice ratio. As a contrast, New Mexico State was credited with just nine assists on its 22 baskets against Utah State Saturday night -- an indication of more one-on-one play.

SJSU also out-boarded the Bulldogs 44-35, with 16 of the 44 being of the offensive variety. Fresno State had matched 2008-2009 opponents rebound for rebound up to this contest.

For some reason or reasons, the Bulldogs attempted seven trey attempts in the overtime, missing every one.

San Jose State plays Bakersfield Monday night

Keith Brown is the Cal State University Bakersfield head coach. He's been with the program close to 10 years, having ushered the Roadrunners into the D-1 ranks of late as the head coach. His team is currently 4-11 but more notable is the 3-4 home record. Do keep in mind that this is a squad that hosted Boise State, losing by just four and also St. Mary's, falling by six points. No, these are not typos.

The Season To Date

Nov 14 @ Wyoming 58 - 84 (L)
Nov 16 @ Air Force 62 - 70 (L)
Nov 21 Cal State Northridge 67 - 65 (W)
Nov 25 Sacramento State 72 - 62 (W)
Nov 29 @ Pepperdine 79 - 72 (W)
Dec 01 San Diego 65 - 77 (L)
Dec 03 @ University of the Pacific 63 - 67 (L)
Dec 06 @ UC Davis 86 - 87 (L)
Dec 10 @ Fresno State 51 - 66 (L)
Dec 13 @ Cal State Fullerton 64 - 87 (L)
Dec 16 @ South Dakota State 65 - 86 (L)
Dec 20 Boise State 62 - 66 (L)
Dec 23 Cal Poly 66 - 64 (W)
Dec 30 Portland 76 - 79 (L) 3
Jan 02 Saint Mary's College 74 - 80 (L)
Jan 04 @ Loyola Marymount 69 - 72 (L)


The Starting Five

We haven't a clue who will form the opening quintet for the Roadrunners. Cory Brown is the tallest player but has started just six games. Santwon Latunde is the second leading scorer but a starter but one time.

Cory Brown 6-10 223 He's checking in at a paltry 1.9 ppg. and 1.6 rpg. but being close to 7-feet is what should get him a starting nod

Trent Blakey 6-4, 220 -- The top scorer at 13.2 ppg., he is shooting 45% from the floor and 39% from three-point range, having taken the most long-range attempts on the team. He is second in rebounding at 5.5 a contest.

Terrance Johns 6-3, 213 -- The California co-MVP of the season while a sophomore at Bakersfield JC, he is a very athletic scorer-type but his shooting is down this season so far at 38% overall and 22% from three-point distance.

Bryan Emanuel 6-2, 200 -- This freshman is averaging 5.0 ppg. while starting each one of Bakersfield's games this season. His shooting is shaky -- 32% for the season and 33% on his treys.

Alex Johnson 5-10, 170 -- His 42/29 assist-to-turnover numbers are the best on the team but he's shooting just 34% and 36%


Off The Bench

Donavan Bragg 6-3, 196 -- He's a creator but has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 41/40 plus his shooting so far has been subpar, 31% and 27% overall and from long range respectively.

Santwon Latunde 6-6, 252 -- He was injured when SJSU played Bakersfield last season but is a scorer down low -- 11.8 a game -- and the top boarder for the Roadrunners at 7.6 caroms a contest. Getting around his screens should probably be measured by an hourglass.


As A Team

*** Bakersfield is shooting 39% collectively while allowing opponents to nail a much better 46% but the Roadrunners have managed 64 more shots to date

*** Three-point shooting has the Roadrunners at 32% to 39% for opposing teams

*** Bakersfield is being out-boarded 37 to 33 per contest

*** The Roadrunners are winning the turnover battle, commiting 226 to 260 for opponents, turning a size disparity to their advantage

*** Bakersfield is also theft-ier (if there is such a word) 101 to 81 -- ditto as above

*** For whatever reason(s), the Roadrunners are scoring much better in the second halfs of games, being just a minus 10 points for the season as a team then as compared to the first half when they are 92 points in the hole


The Bakersfield Roster

Donavan Bragg G 6-3 196 sophomore
Pat Carlson G 6-4 211 junior
Justin Dennis G 6-1 174 junior
Bryan Emanuel G 6-2 200 freshman
Terrance Johns G 6-3 213 senior
Alex Johnson G 5-10 170 sophomore
Jonathan Machado G 5-10 172 junior
Jeff Osborne G 5-10 163 freshman

Ryan Brown G/F 6-4 205 junior

James Albright F 6-6 212 freshman
Trent Blakley F 6-4 220 junior
Santwon Latunde F 6-6 262 junior
Donald Lee F 6-6 228 senior

Cory Brown C 6-10 223 sophomore
Jose Lara C 6-8 280 junior


What Else

Bakersfield kept pace with St. Mary's for most of the game on January 1, eventually losing by six points:

For the second consecutive season, Saint Mary’s used a big run around halftime to open up a close game en route to an 80-74 win over CSUB Friday night at Rabobank Arena. Junior forward Trent Blakley led CSUB with 18 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. But All-America candidate Patrick Mills and junior center Omar Samhan led Saint Mary’s to its 10th consecutive with with 21 and 20 points respectively...

and

The Roadrunners also lost to Boise State but by an even closer margin:

The CSUB men’s basketball team gave one of its best efforts of the season Saturday night, but 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifier Boise State had just a little too much moxie for the young Roadrunners, holding on for A 66-62 win at Rabobank Arena. Junior forward Trent Blakley ended a minor slump by posting his first double-double of the season. He finished with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The CSUB starting backcourt of Terrence Johns and Alex Johnson chipped in 14 and 13 points respectively.

Last Year

Here's what we wrote about the second match of these two teams last season:

Spartans flatten Roadrunners 71-56

It was a re-match tonight between San Jose State and Cal State Bakersfield and the Roadrunners must have felt like the Bill Murray character in the film "Groundhog Day." That's because Bakersfield started out well only to lose momentum and eventually be run over in the second half, losing 71-56. On November 30 in Bakersfield, the final score was 78-63 with a similar second 20 minutes surge.

The upstarts from Kern County initially took advantage of the Spartan difficulties in transitioning from being positioned in a zone defense to picking a man and blocking out on the boards after shot attempts. A couple of very early putbacks/tip-ins gave Bakersfield hope. But San Jose State enjoyed some good possessions, proceeding to pound the ball inside for short shots.

The highlight of the first half was pulled off by DaShawn Wright. After missing a steal near midcourt while running back to defend, he continued on direct in the left passing lane and soon received the ball as the Bakersfield ballhandler attempted to send a pass to a teammate in the corner. Wright then turned and lofted a length of the court pass to C.J. Webster who slammed it home for the Spartans.

Chris Oakes also benefitted from a number of short shots by grabbing the ball and scoring while being fouled.

The Spartans enjoyed a series of effective sequences in the last five minutes of the opening period anchored by three threes from Tim Pierce. A Webster pass to Wright produced a jumpshot for two and Wright broke the Roadrunner press with a dribble-drive pass to Oakes for a dunk.

After 20 minutes, the Spartans led 39-31.

In the second half, Wright started out with a steal he converted into a layup, Jamon Hill passed to Webster for another layup and then nailed a running six-footer himself. With the score 47-33, Bakersfield closed to seven but a couple more quick streaks and the Spartans were back to enjoying a solid double-digit lead.

For the game, Oakes led the team, just missing a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Webster filled the stat sheet with 12 points, eight boards and four assists. Pierce scored 12 on his four three-pointers. Wright enjoyed 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

San Jose State shot 45% for the game, holding Bakersfield to 34%. The Spartans also out-boarded the Roadrunners 44-32.

Spartans win 71-68 in overtime

It was the tale of two halves -- a high-scoring first one and a low-scoring second -- this despite the same two teams participating. The Spartans took a while but closed a nine point deficit at the half to a single possession with seven minutes left. The battle continued to the end and it was a tie -- 63-63 -- when the buzzer sounded.

Overtime commenced and both Dwight O'Neill and Sylvester Seay then missed on Fresno shot attempts. Mac Peterson scored on a layup for SJSU, benefiting from a Justin Graham assist.

Seay followed with a runner to tie the game back up.

Peterson missed the next shot but then so did Bulldog Mychal Ladd. After SJSU grabbed the rebound, Seay stole it and fed Paul George for a dunk.

With 1:55 on the clock, Graham was fouled and he put down both free throws to knot the score once more.

FSU's Bryce Cartwright then missed a trey attempt but C.J. Webster also subsequently misfired inside and Dwight O'Neill rebounded.

He was fouled, making the first but missing the second, giving the Bulldogs a one point lead.

San Jose State came down and Webster was fouled with 34 seconds left. He made both free throws to give the Spartans a one point margin.

O'Neill subsequently tried a three-pointer but fired an air ball. Spartan center Chris Oakes grabbed the ball, was fouled and netted both his free throws, extending the SJSU lead to three.

FSU brought the ball down and Seay and O'Neill both misfired on three-point attempts.

To get to the extra period, Webster nailed two free throws with 15.2 seconds left in the game to cut the Fresno lead to two, 62-60. Ladd was then fouled -- he missed his first shot and made the second, giving the home team a three-point margin.

SJSU-er Graham was fouled with a 1-and-1 awaiting him. He made the first, missed the second but Webster grabbed the offensive rebound and scored to even the game. O'Neill missed a shot near the buzzer and it meant five more minutes of play.

Webster led the Spartans with 23 points, followed by Chris Oakes with 14, Robert Owens 13 and Justin Graham 11 points.

DeShawn Wright and Robert Owens were in the SJSU starting lineup replacing the injured and unable to play Tim Pierce and Adrian Oliver.

It was 44-35 at the half. With three minutes gone, both teams had nine points. Later on, it was 15-12 San Jose State, with the Spartans having connected on seven of their first 10 shots. At the 10:46 mark, it was 19 points apiece. Fresno State then gradually began pulling away and the initial half end with the nine point Bulldog lead.

First half statistics: SJSU -- 50% shooting, 16-32 with one made trey, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and seven turnovers, FSU -- 64% shooting, 18-28 with five made three-pointers, 16 boards, nine assists and nine TOs.

It's on to CSU Bakersfield for San Jose State Monday night in a non-league contest.