With an inexperienced roster impacted by graduations and injuries, San Jose State men's basketball headcoach Tim Miles faced a significant challenge in the season opener against the defending Big West Conference co-champions.
Yet overcoming a slow first half, San Jose State took over the game in the second and won 72-64 over UC Irvine in front of 1,821 fans at the Provident Credit Union Event Center on Tuesday.
"Irvine is a very physical, tough team. They play through the low post, and they force you into some difficult situations," said Miles.
Opening statement from @CoachMiles after tonight’s win. #AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/VL72Z7pCxL
— San Jose State Men’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateMBB) November 8, 2023
FourSpartansscored in double figures, led by Trey Anderson with 19 points. Tibet Görener had 17 points, Myron Amey Jr. 12 points, and Álvaro Cárdenas 11. Amey and Görener each grabbed a team-leading five rebounds, and Cárdenas led in assists with seven.
For UC Irvine, Bent Leuchten was the leading scorer with 14 points, and Devin Tillis had 12 points.
The game began with a tight first half where the margin never extended past four points. At one point, the score stayed at 16-15 San Jose State for over three minutes. Ultimately, the first half ended in a 24-24 tie, with San Jose State narrowly avoiding a possible three-point deficit after a late foul.With three seconds left,Leuchten was fouled while missing a three-point attempt, but the foul was ruled a non-shooting foul. Because UC Irvine had not yet entered the bonus, UC Irvine was awarded only an inbound. Despite shooting a respectable 39 percent in the first half, San Jose State struggled with ball handling, committing 11 turnovers to five assists.
However, San Jose State took control of the game in the second half. After making a pair of free throws, Görener hit a three off a UC Irvine turnover to put San Jose State up 36-29. The lead was as large as 50-37, after a steal-and-score fast break layup by Amey at 12:12.
Wait for it....Tibet Gorener for 3 from @yungXtey #AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/9T7OkJNhM6
— San Jose State Men’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateMBB) November 8, 2023
For the final 10:56, San Jose State played with a smaller lineupdue to starting center Adrame Diongue fouling out. In his San Jose State debut, the transfer from Washington State played just 15 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds. UC Irvine took advantage of the lack of size by attacking the paint, pulling as close as 54-51 at 6:23.
William Humer, a junior college transfer forward from McCook Community College, responded by sinkinganopen three for a 57-51 lead; never again would the lead fall below two possessions, thanks to timely scores and stops.
— San Jose State Men’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateMBB) November 8, 2023BIG 3️⃣ for the big man William Humer!
Another assist for @7Alvaroct, his 6th #AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/TiBxcol0Xn
At 2:06, Cárdenas hit a layup as the shot clock expired for another 10-point lead at 68-58, by this point sinking any UC Irvine hopes for a comeback.
— San Jose State Men’s Basketball (@SanJoseStateMBB) November 8, 2023With the left ? @7Alvaroct
10-point lead with 2️⃣ min left!#AllSpartans pic.twitter.com/WCnq0gc89q
For the game, San Jose State shot 23-for-50 (46 percent) while holding UC Irvine to 23-for-55 (42 percent). The assist-turnover ratio for San Jose State was 13-15; UC Irvine was slightly worse at 11-15. The rebounding was nearly even, with UC Irvine grabbing 31 to San Jose State's 30.
Miles is now 3-0 in season openers at San Jose State; this is also the eighth straight season where San Jose State won the first game.
A regular contender in the Big West Conference, UC Irvine (0-1) comes off a 23-12 seasonand a tie for first in the Big West standings. Last season, San Jose State (1-0) was 21-14 for the first 20-win season inover 40 years.
The startingfive for San Jose State has only three returning starters: forward Anderson and guards Amey and Cárdenas. After 34 appearances off the bench last season, Görener was elevated to starter, with Diongue at center. These roster moves follow guard and Mountain West Player of the YearOmari Mooreentering the NBA,forward Sage Tolbertgraduating, and center Ibrahima Diallo transferring to UCF.
There are also injuries to key bench players, forward Robert Vaihola (foot) and guard Garrett Anderson (ankle). Twonew playersexpected to be in the rotation were also inactive, guard Iggy Mitchell (ACL) and forward DJ Seixas (ankle). These injuries were first reported by Stadium college basketballanalyst Jeff Goodman.
San Jose State returns to action for another home game Thursday night vs. NCCAA opponent Bethesda at 8 p.m. (PT). Then on Sunday will be an away game at Texas Tech, tipoff 11 a.m. (PT). The preseason Mountain West poll picked San Jose State seventh; the preseason Big West poll picked UC Irvine fourth.
This game also marks the regular season debut of the new basketball court with a circuit board theme, a design chosen by fans in an online poll in 2022.The court was originally scheduled for debut last season but was delayed due to construction issues.
