FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State University’s men’s basketball team secured a 65-57 victory over San Jose State University on , at Moby Arena. The win breaks a recent losing streak for the Rams and offers a potential turning point as they navigate the remainder of the February schedule.
Colby Garland led the Spartans with a game-high 21 points, playing the entirety of the 40-minute contest. Despite Garland’s performance, San Jose State (6-17, 1-11 Mountain West Conference) could not overcome Colorado State (13-10, 4-8 Mountain West). The Spartans kept the game competitive in the first half, trailing by only one point, 30-29, at the intermission. However, Colorado State regained the lead early in the second half and maintained it for the remainder of the game.
The contest highlighted the challenges facing San Jose State, which had six players sidelined due to injury. Pasha Goodarzi contributed 15 points for the Spartans, converting both of his three-point attempts and going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, setting a new career high for free throws made in a single game. Melvin Bell Jr. Added seven points and four rebounds, also playing all 40 minutes.
While San Jose State managed to hold Colorado State to 38 percent shooting from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc, their own shooting percentages proved insufficient. The Spartans shot 35 percent overall and just 25 percent from three-point range. A significant rebounding disparity also favored the Rams, who outrebounded San Jose State 48-28.
Garland’s 21-point performance marked the 10th time this season, and the 13th time in his career, that he has scored 20 or more points in a game. He has now achieved this feat in consecutive games. Sadraque NgaNga also contributed with two three-pointers, alongside Goodarzi.
Beyond scoring, several Spartans achieved individual milestones during the game. Adrian Myers recorded a career-high four assists and three steals, alongside six rebounds. Japhet Moupadele tallied a career-best two blocked shots. Marcus Overstreet reached 500 career rebounds during the contest. Notably, San Jose State committed only four turnovers throughout the entire game, demonstrating a level of ball control despite the challenging circumstances.
The Spartans’ performance comes after a loss to New Mexico (88-65), indicating a continuing struggle for consistency within the Mountain West Conference. The team’s limited depth, exacerbated by the ongoing injury situation, presents a significant hurdle to sustained success.
Looking ahead, San Jose State will face UNLV on , at 8 p.m. PST from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast on FS1, offering a televised platform for the Spartans to attempt to rebound from their latest defeat. This matchup presents another challenging test for San Jose State, as they face a UNLV team likely aiming to solidify its position within the conference standings.
Colorado State’s victory provides a much-needed boost as they attempt to build momentum in February. The Rams’ ability to control the boards and capitalize on San Jose State’s shooting struggles proved decisive. Jevin Muniz contributed 15 points off the bench for Colorado State, providing valuable scoring support. The Rams will need to maintain this level of performance as they face increasingly competitive opponents in the coming weeks.
The game underscores the competitive nature of the Mountain West Conference, where even teams facing significant adversity, such as San Jose State with its injury woes, can pose a threat. The Spartans’ disciplined ball-handling, evidenced by their low turnover rate, demonstrates a commitment to fundamental basketball principles despite the challenges. However, their shooting efficiency and rebounding deficiencies ultimately proved too difficult to overcome against a determined Colorado State team.
The upcoming game against UNLV will be a crucial test for San Jose State. The Spartans will need to address their shooting inconsistencies and rebounding issues to have a realistic chance of securing a victory. The availability of injured players, or the emergence of unexpected contributions from the remaining roster, could also play a significant role in determining the outcome. For Colorado State, maintaining their rebounding dominance and consistent scoring will be key as they continue their pursuit of a stronger conference record.
