Courtesy: Santa Clara University Athletics

The San Jose State Spartans (5 – 4) lost to the Santa Clara Broncos 75 – 54 in a game at the Event Center whose outcome was never in doubt. The visiting Broncos (7 – 2) started out hot, using a 12 – 0 run in the first half to open up a 44 – 25 halftime lead it would never relinquish. On defense, the Broncos clamped down on the Spartans’ perimeter shooters, while frustrating the Spartans’ post players in the paint with a suffocating defense.

SJSU’s leading scorer James Kinney managed to score 19 points, but shot only 6-of-16 from the field, and 3-of-6 from the free throw line. He was able to get into the lane on several possessions–only to be met by a waiting Bronco post defender who forced several difficult double-clutch shots by Kinney. DJ Brown scored nine points, but also struggled from the field (1-of-6), as did Chris Cunningham (6 points, 2-of-10 from the field). Center Alex Brown also had six points, but he did clean the glass for eight rebounds and blocked four shots.

The Spartans shot a dismal 25.0% (15-of-60) from the field, despite knocking down a good percentage of their 3-point shots (6-of-14 for 42.9%). They converted 18-of-26 free throws for 69.2%.

The Broncos were led by Evan Roquemore’s 16 points, followed by Raymond Cowell III’s 13 points and Kevin Foster’s 11 points. Foster, SCU’s leading scorer, struggled from the field (5-of-14), but fed his teammates for a team-high six assists. Roquemore also dished out five assists, while Marc Trasolini led with nine rebounds, followed closely by Cowell and reserve Yannick Atanga’s six rebounds each. Trasolini also scored nine points and blocked three shots, while center Robert Garrett scored eight points and blocked a team-high four shots.

The Broncos shot 46.6% (27-of-58) from the field, 40.0% (8-of-20) behind the 3-point arc, and 68.4% (13-of-19) from the charity stripe. But it was the Broncos’ harassing defense which forced the Spartans into taking contested shots, ultimately sealing a decisive road victory for Santa Clara.

Next up for the Spartans is James Madison on December 22 in Las Vegas.