San José State men’s basketball team enters its new season at 1-3, having opened with three straight road losses.
SJSU head coach Tim Miles opened the year by acknowledging that his team is up against youth, inexperience and chemistry..
“(The group) struggled for a while in the first half,” referring to foul troubles, lineup changes and a choppy offense. Miles said in an Oct. 27 press conference.
Spartans senior guard JaVaughn Hannah recorded 17.1 points and eight rebounds in the exhibition game against Cal State University, East Bay.
“We had adversity, foul trouble, and then different lineups we hadn’t even practiced… but (the) guys figured it out,” Miles said.
Miles found encouragement in the team’s response as the game progressed.
SJSU senior forward Yaphet Moundi, posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and senior forward Sadraque NgaNga added 14 points on 5 for 6 shooting.
“We only had one assist on 13 field goals. We weren’t sharing it. Unless we change the way we think, we’re in trouble,” he said.
Spartan junior guard Colby Garland, one of the program’s vocal leaders, added to what Miles said .
“We showed in the second half that we care about this and want to do something special … learning each other off the court matters just as much as on it,” Garland said.
In the contest against Bethesda University, SJSU shot 43 for 66 from the field and 12 for 23 from 3-point range, with six players scoring in double figures.
SJSU also dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 55-18.
Miles said they had a clear goal for the night which was to hold the opponent under 30 percent shooting.
“We reminded them every timeout … and we ended at 29.5%, just under 30 … we don’t round up around here,” Miles said.
SJSU guard freshman Melvin Bell Jr. played three different positions in one night, which Miles praised as an example of selflessness.
“Melvin is the kind of player who steps into whatever role the team needs without complaint. That kind of flexibility and attitude is exactly what helps us grow as a group,” Miles said.
Another newcomer, Marcus Overstreet, earned repeated commendation from both teammates and coaches for his rebounding impact.
“The good news is we have a lot of guys who can do the same things. The bad news is there’s no separation,” Miles said.
One focal point for this year’s squad is perimeter shooting, which multiple players pointed to as a strength.
“Three-point shooting is what our team is built on. We shoot a lot of them,” Garland said.
Hannah said the Spartan’s best stretches have come when ball movement and spacing allow shooters to get loose.
With more key pieces like Hannah, Moundi, and sophomore guard Jermaine Washington returning to the lineup soon and several freshmen already carving out their roles, SJSU is still far from its final form.
But the early signs suggest a group willing to embrace both the growth process and the accountability required to compete at a high level.
“This is one of the deepest teams we’ve had. Guys stayed ready and seized the moment tonight,” Garland said.
Looking ahead, the Spartans are set to face Southern University on Nov. 21 at the Provident Credit Union Event Center at 7 p.m.
