By Jose Trujillo (@jAy_Ay_T):
After opening the season with four straight home games (preseason included), the San Jose State men’s basketball team (1-1) hits the road for the first time this season to take on Southern Utah University (0-2).
The Spartans tipped off the season with a 97-45 blowout over Antelope Valley, but were then hammered the following game against the University of San Diego, 81-64.
In the regular season opener, the Spartans demonstrated what Prioleau’s offense can look like when executed correctly.
San Jose State assisted on 30 of its 34 made field goals, yet things weren’t so smooth against San Diego.
The team shot 31 percent from the floor and managed only 11 assists. The Toreros sank nine threes while the Spartans only hit three.
They will have a chance to get their offense rolling again against a familiar foe in Southern Utah University which SJSU beat a season ago.
“We just have to be locked in from the time we leave at 5:15 tomorrow morning,” said freshman guard Caleb Simmons on Tuesday. “If we go with the mindset that we will win, and that we’re going for each other, and not individual reasons, then we’ll be OK.”
The Thunderbirds are coming off back-to-back road losses against Oregon State and another Mountain West school, Boise State.
It will be Southern Utah’s home opener, so the Spartans should expect the Thunderbirds to come out with a lot of energy especially in front of their home crowd.
The Thunderbirds have some firepower as they are averaging 75 points per game and have four players scoring in double digits.
Their biggest scoring threats are junior guard Jadon Cohee at 20 points per game and junior forward Jamal Aytes, a BYU transfer putting up 14 points per game.
The 6-foot-6 Aytes is coming off a monster performance against Boise State in which he finished with 27 points and seven rebounds on 11-15 shooting.
“It comes down to guarding the ball and our ball screen defense,” said junior guard Jaycee Hillsman. “If there is one thing that travels, it’s defense and rebounding. So that is what we will be focused on because the shots will come. Guys will hit them as the season goes along.”
One Spartan who is already hitting shots is Ryan Welage.
The junior forward is averaging 23.5 points, five rebounds and two assists per game while shooting 56 percent from the field.
“He has been doing that since he got here,” Hillsman said. “He is a quality scorer and one of the best scorers in the Mountain West. He will continue to do this for the rest of the year. I have full confidence in that.”
Tip off is set for 6:30 p.m. MT (5:30 p.m. PT) from the America First Event Center in Cedar City, Utah.