San Jose State garners its first verbal

Coach George Nessman and San Jose State have landed the first of an expected three new players.

6-foot-6 Kurt Davis, out of Centennial High in Compton, has committed to play at SJSU following the 2009-2010 high school season.

Here's a November 2007 ESPN evaluation of Davis.

Joe Henson plays his final high school game

Joseph Henson is no longer a Bulldog...a Pasadena High Bulldog that is. Come June, he enrolls at San Jose State.

Fred J. Robledo
Pasadena Star-News

Pasadena High School's Joseph Henson and Darius Johnson had 14 and 13 points, respectively, and the Star-News boys team won for the fifth time in six years, 101-85, at the annual Tribune/Star-News High School All-Star Basketball Classic at Azusa Pacific University Felix Event Center on Saturday night.

"This means a lot," said the 6-foot-8 Henson, who was selected Star-News MVP after scoring 11 of his team-high 14 points during the first half, along with grabbing 12 rebounds. "It was neat that we all came together as a team and got it done."

Additionally, San Jose State has 6-5 Anthony Dixon out of Chicago, Aalim Moor of St. Mary's High in Berkeley and 6-4 Chris Jones scheduled to come into the fold.

Last night in the WAC

More later on this but does Fresno State perform more effectively without Dwight O'Neill? Remember that the Bulldogs took down a Kenneth Cooper-less Louisiana Tech 63-46 when O'Neill was serving a different suspension. Not to take anything away from another Aggie win...

Ags need OT in Fresno to stay unbeaten in WAC
Jared Eborn
Deseret News
February 1, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. — With a potential Top 25 ranking waiting to be had, Utah State turned to its only senior.

And that senior delivered in a huge way.

Gary Wilkinson scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds at Utah State survived a big scare from Fresno State to hold on for a thrilling 83-77 overtime win at the Save Mart Center.

The win is Utah State's 16th in a row and gives the 21-1 Aggies a still-unblemished 9-0 mark in the Western Athletic Conference.

It also means USU, which was No. 27 in the coaches poll, will probably climb into the Top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2003-04 season. Several teams at the bottom of the rankings lost this week, opening the door for the Aggies.

"We're a team," Wilkinson said, emphasizing the word 'team' as he talked about how the Aggies held off the Bulldogs, 9-13, 1-6. "If any one person thought it all relied on them, it would have folded..."

Go here for the remainder.

Here's Shawn Harrison with his game report:

USU refuses to lose
Shawn Harrison
Herald Journal
February 1, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. — How does this Aggie team keep winning?

By not flinching at whatever is thrown at them. Utah State avoided defeat again after another close call.

Even a three-quarter court shot to send the game into overtime didn’t phase the Aggies. USU calmly took the momentum away from Fresno State in the extra period Saturday night at the Save Mart Center and kept all its winning streaks alive, 83-77.

“We keep finding a way,” Aggie head coach Stew Morrill said.. “This team has been amazing in close games. We have showed some toughness...”

Go here for the remainder.

From the Fresno perspective, here's Daniel Lyght:

Bulldogs fail to finish miracle
Seay's 60-footer ties it, but Utah State pulls out win in overtime.
Daniel Lyght
Fresno Bee
February 1, 2009

After being held to 10 points in their prior meeting, Utah State's Gary Wilkinson proved himself against Fresno State on Saturday at the Save Mart Center, conquering the Bulldogs' paint for a career-high 33 points as the Aggies escaped with an 83-77 overtime win.

"We ran at him and doubled him, and did a variety of things and sometimes he shot over the double team and sometimes he stepped back and shot it. He played really well tonight," Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. "He had a huge first half and ... got his confidence up."

Wilkinson threw down an authoritative dunk with 14 seconds left in regulation, giving the Aggies a three-point lead. Little hope seemed to remain for a Fresno State upset of Western Athletic Conference-leading Utah State.

After Bulldogs freshman Paul George drove for a layup instead of shooting a 3 on the next possession, it certainly seemed as if they were done. But forward Sylvester Seay, who led the Bulldogs (9-12, 1-6) with 20 points, flung a three-quarters-court prayer from about 60 feet that banged in at the horn to tie it at 72-72.

The crowd erupted in disbelief as the video scoreboard lit up with "unbelievable."

"That was pretty magical," Cleveland said...

Go here for the remainder.

Now this may be the most important article to come out of the Aggie-Bulldog game last night:

Morrill has turned Utah State into the state of Utah's team
Randy Hollis
Deseret News
February 1, 2009

They're that obscure little school up north, with a campus nestled near the mouth of Logan Canyon in Cache Valley — a place that, somehow, is better known for its cheese than its college basketball.

Oh, sure, the cheese is mighty good — but, year in and year out, over the last decade, Aggie basketball has been even better.

Utah State University doesn't receive the recognition in this state that's generally reserved for BYU and the University of Utah. The Aggies' football program has smelled like rotten Limburger for a couple of decades, and the school plays in a more low-profile league — the Western Athletic Conference — than their big-brother counterparts to the south (who, by the way, both dwelled in the WAC for many years).

And, let's face it, some clueless, snobbish folks consider Logan as simply the southern-most part of Idaho.

But, when it comes right down to it, the Aggies are not only Utah State's basketball team, but they should be known as the state of Utah's team as well...

Go here for the remainder.

New Mexico State took care of Hawaii.

Aggies push past Hawaii in men's basketball
Jason Groves
Las Cruces Sun-News
2/01/2009

LAS CRUCES — It wasn't a matter of if, but when.

For 16 minutes, Hawaii's deliberate style contained high-scoring New Mexico State, but a late run in the first half helped the Aggies provide enough of a cushion to win their second straight.

Jahmar Young led the Aggies with 25 points in an 82-72 Western Athletic Conference victory over the Warriors on Saturday at the Pan American Center.

"I think we need a little bit of a cushion," Aggies head coach Marvin Menzies said. "We can get a little too tense on the decision making when the score is really tight. They are one of those teams that will hang around and if they make a few shots, they are right there to win it. Thankfully we had guys knock down shots."

The Aggies improved to 11-11 and 5-3 in the WAC while Hawaii falls to 11-11 and 4-5 in the WAC, thanks in part to a 12 second-half points from Aggies sophomore guard Gordo Castillo...

Go here for the remainder.

Nevada had to go into Moscow -- previously not a tough matchup but how that has quickly changed -- and came away victorious but it was a battle:

Pack basketball: Nevada defense pounds out win
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
February 1, 2009

MOSCOW, Idaho -- With 7 seconds left on the clock and a win firmly entrenched in Nevada's pocket, Armon Johnson put his arm around teammate Luke Babbitt and said "Bye, Bye" to the rowdy Idaho crowd.

Thanks to the Babbitt-Johnson duo -- plus some stingy defense late and plenty of help from their Wolf Pack teammates -- Nevada was able to send the foul-mouthed crowd of 2,806 fans out of Cowan Spectrum with a hotly contested loss.

Babbitt scored a career-high 24 points -- seven coming in the final 4 minutes, 18 seconds -- and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Wolf Pack to the 69-65 victory over the revitalized Idaho Vandals...

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray has more here and here about the game.

Ron Tyler at A Closer Look At LA TECH Hoops has a recap of the San Jose State victory over the Bulldogs.

Here's the News Star with a game report.

A feature on SJSU's Tim Pierce

Dave Newhouse is a San Jose State grad and a longtime sportswriter in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Life's now a slam dunk for Oaklander
Dave Newhouse:
Bay Area News Group
1/25/2009

The shortest work cycle is that of an athlete. You can be a letter carrier, teacher, chef, accountant, lawyer, doctor or entertainer forever, but an athlete doesn't have that luxury.

He or she could be a high school hero, then a college athlete if fortunate, and a professional if that person has attained elite status. But even the most gifted athlete is through by one's late 30s, early 40s, if he or she hasn't been cycled out much earlier.

That work cycle spins them in, then spits them out, with a new cycle of athletes waiting to take their place. So they had better have gained something constructive along the way, besides lofty statistics and All-America recognition, if the dream of becoming a pro athlete isn't realized.

Tim Pierce is a San Jose State senior, a 23-year-old from Oakland who's one of the best basketball players on campus. His exploits at Hercules High School, after transferring there from Fremont High, were herculean, thereby earning him a scholarship to Arizona State...

Go here for the remainder.

LA TECH beats San Jose State on the road

Here's a game we attended last night, hence the long-ish writeup.

Spartans fall 66-61 to Louisiana Tech

San Jose State jumped out to a very early lead but Louisiana Tech countered and the sense set in that the game would be a grinder from then on out. That it became as the Bulldogs crept into the lead and held it at intermission.

With 13:05 remaining in the second half, San Jose State tied it up at 41 apiece. The Spartans inched away to a 48-44 lead at the 10:51 mark.

Then a cold stretch by SJSU, coupled with a Kyle Gibson three, put Tech back in the lead at 52-51 with 6:32 on the clock.

A Justin Graham three-pointer from the top of the circle made it 59-56 in favor of the Ruston-ites with 3:56 remaining. The Techsters missed a shot on the next possession but so did SJSU. After another Bulldog turnover, Tim Pierce hit a trey from the right side to tie the game at 59 with 2:47 remaining.

Tech committed another turnover but Pierce missed on a dribble-drive and the Bulldogs rebounded.

Jamel Guyton was fouled and nailed both free throws, giving Louisiana Tech a two point margin, 61-59. Adrian Oliver countered with an 18-foot jumper to tie it back up.

Then the crucial possessions occurred.

Kenneth Cooper scored on a crossunder layup and Magnum Rolle subsequently blocked Graham's dribble-drive shot in the key.

Tech took a timeout with 44.3 seconds on the clock and possession of the ball.

The Bulldogs' Gibson missed a shot attempt but Cooper rebounded. He was then tied up but the possession arrow favored Tech -- 24.3 seconds remained.

After a timeout, Cooper was intentionally fouled and made one of two free throws with 22.7 seconds left.

At the 13 second mark, Pierce missed a three-point attempt -- back rim -- and James Loe was fouled. He nailed both free throws and that was the game.

Tech's Cooper went to the bench early in the initial half after two too easy C.J. Webster buckets. But the Bulldog center became a force in the remainder of the contest, moving bodies and creating space so much so that Webster and Spartan center Chris Oakes were both saddled with two fouls at the half. Call Cooper the most valuable Bulldog of the night as LAT smartly and proficiently ran offensive sets that often isolated Cooper against a either a smaller or less weighty Spartan.

Adrian Oliver again led San Jose State, this time with 18 points. On a night where his shooting appeared off, he still shot 7-14. Webster added 17 and six boards. Cooper also finished with 17 and Guyton was definitely 'on' tonight with 14 points on with 4-8 shooting overall and an 'en fuego' 4-5 from long distance. Although Gibson entered the game with many 40 assists to 48 turnovers, he enjoyed three assists and zero miscues with the ball on the evening. Guyton also had five assists with but one turnover even though he entered the game with a 33/34 assist to turnover ratio.

As teams, San Jose State shot just below 42% for the game, a paltry 4-17 on three-pointers and earned just 12 free throws, all by Webster and Oliver. But 19 Spartan assists were a bright spot. The Techsters were just above 42% for the game but 7-11 on trey attempts and 21-29 at the charity stripe. Rebounding ended up in SJSU's favor 34-31, with 13 coming at the offensive end..

Louisiana Tech led 33-27 at the half. With 11:18 remaining, the Techsters were up by one 14-13. Jamel Guyton was proficient from outside with three treys. James Loe even got into the act with a three-pointer and another deuce on basket interference.

The Bulldogs then widened the lead to 24-15 at the 8:06 mark.

As we asked in our preview, which Louisiana Tech team appeared Saturday night? Well, Cooper was certainly assertive, Magnum Rolle had his moments especially with help defense on SJSU dribble drives and James Loe contributed five points and notched three assists with nary a turnover in the first half.

NOTES

With the chance to finally see Magnum Rolle in action, our take is that he will be back for his senior season and that any NBA talk is premature. He's a marvelous leaper with arms that go on forever but he needs an upperbody in order to ply his trade in the NBA. Right nbow, there's no 'V' to his upper body -- his waist to his shoulders is a straight up line.

More on Spartan signee Anthony Dixon

We sent out a note earlier about how Spartan signee Joe Henson is doing at Pasadena High this season and here's another brief update on him followed by some information we've collected on Anthony Dixon, another SJSU signee.

"It shouldn't surprise anyone that undefeated Westchester won the Ocean View Tournament of Champions for the second consecutive year on Saturday...

Check out all-tournament team: Vaughn Autry (Gardena Serra), Shelton Boykin (Long Beach Poly), Denzel Douglas (Westchester), Kareem Jamar (Westchester), Jerry Evans (Leuzinger), Julian Wheeler (Leuzinger), Thomas Hammock (Compton Centennial), Joseph Henson (Pasadena)....

Austin Knoblauch, LA TIMES"
_________________________

6-4 Anthony Dixon is a McDonald's All-American nominee who plays for Hyde Park in Chicago.

November 25, 2008

Hyde Park 95, Dyett 50

Hyde Park: Malcolm Griffin 20 pts, 10 assists; Martell Jackson 15 pts, 10 steals; Anthony Dixon 8 pts, 20 rebs

and

December 3, 2008

"Five players scored in double figures as No. 12 Hyde Park defeated Harlan 72-56 Wednesday night. Anthony Dixon led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Malcolm Griffin (13 points, six rebounds, six steals), Martell Jackson (14 points, six steals), Fabyon Harris (10 points, five steals) and Aqui Sharees (12 points, five rebounds) contributed to the victory, which moved Hyde Park to 2-0."

and

December 11, 2008

"Hyde Park 75, Robeson 65: All five starters scored in double figures for Hyde Park (3-1, 1-0): Anthony Dixon (16 points), Malcolm Griffin (15 points, 10 assists), Fabyon Harris (15 points), Martel Jackson (12 points) and Jerome Moore (10 points, 10 rebounds)."

San Jose better than San Diego

No, we are not comparing the merits of each metropolis but the basketball game last night between San Jose State and San Diego. Now, with our bias overreaching into full blown shamelessness, we are here to report that with all truthiness aside, the Spartans won 56-52.

Noe some may claim that this isn't true and we'll let such vantage points slide, if your name happens to be or you are related to the marvelous Stephen Colbert (soft t), purveyor of such classic lines as "I don't trust books. They're all fact, no heart..." and "You don't look up truthiness in a book, you look it up in your gut."

But if you're not...

All kidding aside (and it is kidding), here's a report on last night game via the SJSU sports site:

San Diego, CA -- Forward Tim Pierce matched his career scoring high of 23 points and guard Justin Graham scored the game’s final four points leading San Jose State to a 56-52 win over the University of San Diego in a non-conference men’s basketball game.

Pierce was 7-of-10 from the field including 5-of-6 from three points range and scored 21 of his points after halftime. The 6-foot-7 senior made all five of his three-point tries for the Spartans (3-3) after intermission.

Graham, who scored just six points, came up with a pair of steals in the final 45 seconds. Following a Spartan timeout, San Jose State spread the floor for the 6-foot-4 sophomore. With the shot clock winding down, Graham drove the right side of the lane, stopped from eight feet, leaned in and banked in his shot off the glass giving the Spartans a 54-52 lead with 11.1 seconds. He then stole the ball from San Diego guard Devin Ginty and hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds to go to close out the scoring...

Go here for the remainder.

Yes, Torero floor leader Brandon Johnson was missing due to a season-ending injury but so was SJSU transfer Adrian Oliver and the game was at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego.

San Jose State falls to Santa Clara

Free throws. Make that missed free throws did in San Jose State. Oh and some guy named John Bryant.

SCU defeats San Jose State in men's basketball
Jon Wilner
San Jose Mercury News
12/03/2008

Neither team was at its best. Not close to its best. San Jose State, coming off a nine-day break, looked out of sync. Santa Clara, coming off a trip from hell — five flights over two days to get home from Missoula, Mont. — looked weary.

The Broncos had the lead, lost it, regained it, lost it again and then mustered the energy to snatch it back in the final minutes and escape with a 59-56 victory Wednesday before an announced crowd of 2,046 at San Jose State's McPherson Court...

Go here for the remainder.

Update on former Spartan Menelik Barbary

Came across this update on former San Jose Stater Menelik Barbary:

VOO Verviers-Pepinster has announced that they have added American center Menelik Barbary to their roster to replace the departed Duane Irwin. {Barbary] moved to Europe to play in Romania for CSU Altassib Sibiu where in 20 games he had averages of 13.4 ppg and 8.0 rpg. He started this season in Austria playing for the Furstenfeld Panthers but requested his release from the team after 4 games in which he scored 5.3 ppg and grabbed 4.3 rpg in 21 minutes a game.

The Spartan Daily features SJSU men's basketball

The Spartan Daily, the San Jose State student newspaper, has a feature on the men's basketball team>

SJSU men's basketball has tournament hopes
Peter Hironaka
The Spartan Daily
11/5/08

The SJSU men's basketball team kicks off the 2008-2009 season this Thursday in an exhibition hosting Menlo College.

Next week, the regular season starts at South Dakota State.

The team brings with it this year great expectations following the team's best season in seven years with a record of 13-19. Wins from the previous two seasons combined for 11.

The Spartans have teams around the Western Athletic Conference impressed, as they are picked to finish third in the coach's poll...

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray previews San Jose State

Here's Chris Murray with his take on San Jose State in the upcoming season.

WAC Basketball: All five starters return for San Jose State
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
November 2, 2008

Last season, the San Jose State basketball team was full of Division I novices.

The Spartan roster was talented, but the players weren't fully confident in their ability to win games at the D-I level. Fact was, most players on the team had zero D-I experience.

So, the team went though the season feeling its way through each game -- or as SJSU center C.J. Webster put it, the team "tip-toed around everything last year."

After a year of maturation, don't expect that to be a problem for the Spartans this year...

Go here for the remainder.

Chris Murray knows his way to San Jose (State)

Here's Chris Murray with his continued take on this year's WAC basketball teams.

WAC Basketball: All five starters return for San Jose State
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
November 2, 2008

Last season, the San Jose State basketball team was full of Division I novices.

The Spartan roster was talented, but the players weren't fully confident in their ability to win games at the D-I level. Fact was, most players on the team had zero D-I experience.

So, the team went though the season feeling its way through each game -- or as SJSU center C.J. Webster put it, the team "tip-toed around everything last year."

After a year of maturation, don't expect that to be a problem for the Spartans this year...

Go here for the remainder.