San José State defeats Nevada 87-71

The San Jose State Spartans pulled off a stunning 87-71 upset over the Nevada Wolf Pack, defying their 265 NET ranking and dealing a significant blow to Nevada's tournament hopes, which were already on shaky ground with a 59 NET ranking. This loss, a 16-point margin, raises serious questions about Nevada's seed line implications, potentially dropping them out of the top 6 seeds in their conference. The Spartans, on the other hand, have breathed new life into their season, albeit still sitting at a 7-19 record. The game was essentially decided in the first half, where San José State went on a 20-5 run, capped off by a Colby Garland three-pointer with 4:47 left in the period, to take a 47-32 lead into the break. Nevada, who had been averaging 73.6 points per game over their last 5, struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 36% from the field in the first half.

The second half saw San José State maintain their momentum, with Adrian Myers scoring 10 of his 21 points in the period, including a crucial layup with 10:15 left to push the lead to 20. Nevada tried to mount a comeback, but the Spartans' defense held strong, limiting the Wolf Pack to just 39 points in the second half. The loss is a significant setback for Nevada, who had been 3-2 over their last 5 games, with wins over Fresno State, UNLV, and Grand Canyon. Their trend of outscoring opponents by 2.2 points per game over that stretch was nowhere to be found, as they were outscored by 16. The Spartans, on the other hand, have finally broken their 5-game losing streak, during which they were being outscored by an average of 14.2 points per game.

The star performers for San José State were undeniable, with Colby Garland leading the charge with 29 points and 9 assists, including 5 three-pointers. Adrian Myers was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while Sadraque NgaNga chipped in with 15 points. For Nevada, Corey Camper Jr. was the lone bright spot, scoring 18 points, but even he struggled to find his rhythm, shooting just 6-15 from the field. Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems added 14 and 11 points, respectively, but it was too little, too late. What's notable is how Garland and Myers took over the game, hitting big shots and making crucial plays when it mattered most. On the other hand, Nevada's stars, including Camper Jr., seemed to vanish in the second half, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

The question on everyone's mind is how did CHD Scout's prediction go so wrong? The predicted score was 67-80 in favor of Nevada, with a 13.3-point margin. The actual score, 87-71 in favor of San José State, is a far cry from that prediction.

The reason for this discrepancy lies in the Spartans' ability to exploit Nevada's weaknesses, particularly their defense, which had been allowing an average of 71.4 points per game over their last 5. San José State's offense, which had been averaging just 69.8 points per game over their last 5, suddenly found its rhythm, scoring 87 points and shooting 51% from the field. The Spartans' defense, which had been a liability all season, held strong, limiting Nevada to just 71 points and forcing 15 turnovers. This performance was a significant departure from their recent trend, where they had been outscored by an average of 14.2 points per game.

As the season enters its final stretch, this win for San José State has real consequences for both teams. For the Spartans, it's a much-needed boost to their resume, albeit still a long shot for any postseason hopes. For Nevada, it's a devastating loss that could potentially drop them out of the top 6 seeds in their conference. With a 17-9 record, Nevada still has a decent shot at making the tournament, but this loss will certainly raise some eyebrows. Over their last 5 games, Nevada had been outscoring their opponents by an average of 2.2 points per game, but that trend was broken in this game, as they were outscored by 16. San José State, on the other hand, had been struggling, losing all 5 of their previous games, including a 79-94 loss to Grand Canyon and a 75-82 loss to UNLV.

The impact of this win on San José State's tournament picture is minimal, but it's a step in the right direction. With a 7-19 record, they still have a long way to go, but this win could potentially play a role in their seeding for the conference tournament. For Nevada, this loss is a significant setback, potentially dropping them out of the top 6 seeds in their conference. With a 17-9 record, they still have a decent shot at making the tournament, but this loss will certainly raise some eyebrows. The fact that this was a Quadrant 4 game for Nevada, and a Quadrant 2 game for San José State, makes the loss even more damaging for the Wolf Pack. As it stands, Nevada's current NET ranking of 59 is still relatively safe, but another loss or two could put them in danger of falling off the bubble. San José State, on the other hand, still has a lot of work to do, but this win could be a turning point in their season.

The Spartans' recent trend of losing by an average of 14.2 points per game over their last 5 was broken in this game, as they outscored Nevada by 16. This performance was a significant departure from their recent form, where they had lost all 5 of their previous games. Nevada, on the other hand, had been trending upwards, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, including wins over Fresno State, UNLV, and Grand Canyon. However, this loss will certainly raise some questions about their ability to close out games. With 10 games left in the season, both teams want to build on this performance, albeit in different ways. San José State want to build on their momentum, while Nevada want to regroup and refocus. The Spartans' 51% shooting from the field, including 42% from three-point range, was a key factor in their win, as they were able to exploit Nevada's defensive weaknesses.

In the end, this game will be remembered as a significant upset, one that could have far-reaching implications for both teams. San José State's win over Nevada is a reflection of their ability to rise to the occasion, even if it's just for one game. As the season enters its final stretch, it will be interesting to see how both teams respond to this result. Will San José State be able to build on this momentum, or will they revert to their old ways? Will Nevada be able to regroup and refocus, or will this loss be a sign of things to come? we will find out, but for now, the Spartans are basking in the glory of their upset win, while the Wolf Pack are left to pick up the pieces. The 16-point margin of victory was a significant statement by the Spartans, who had been struggling to find their footing all season. With this win, they have finally found some momentum, and it will be interesting to see how they build on it.