There are nights when a season bends, if only slightly, toward belief regardless if the other team has had its own struggles.
Tuesday night in Colorado Springs against Air Force was one of those bends.
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San Jose State (8-20, 3-14 MW) walked into Clune Arena and walked out with its first road victory of the year; an 86-80 decision built on shot-making, resilience and the exploits of red shirt sophomore Adrian Myers .
Myers was doing it all from the opening tip.
Eighteen first-half points set the tone, and his career-high 34, the most by a Spartan this season, came on a blistering 11-of-18 shooting, including 8-of-9 from three-point range.
At altitude, against a Falcon team that has struggled to shoot much of the year but found a first-half rhythm, Myers’ poise never wavered.
Air Force’s Lucas Hobin was unconscious early, 5-of-8 from beyond the arc in the first-half alone, some from near half-court range, helping the Falcons surge ahead 11-2 in the opening minutes.
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Yet, the Spartans never fractured.
Jermaine Washington, back after missing five games, steadied the perimeter, while Sadraque Nganga, increasingly playing more than a stretch four, carved space inside and finished with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The first-half unfolded as a relatively even, back-and-forth affair, five ties and six lead changes over 40 minutes.
San Jose State closed the half on a Myers three to seize a 42-37 lead; a subtle but significant shift in a game that would demand nerve.
Air Force would not yield.
The Falcons outscored SJSU 10-4 to begin the second half, briefly reclaiming momentum.
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But Colby Garland then “woke up,” finishing with 23 points and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line . His calm at the stripe, especially in the final seconds, proved decisive.
With eight minutes left, the Spartans authored the stretch that defined the night; hitting six of seven shots to push the lead to double digits.
Myers’ sixth, seventh and then eighth three-pointers punctuated the surge, stretching the margin to as many as 12 .
And yet, even statistically, the Spartans were outmatched in key areas.
Air Force outscored SJSU 42-26 in the paint and shot a slightly better overall percentage (50.9% to 49.1%) . The Falcons also won the rebounding battle 32-31.
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But the difference was precision: San Jose State shot 54.2% from three and 89.5% from the line; efficiency over volume, execution over margin.
There was late-game anxiety.
A sudden scoring drought left the Spartans clinging to a four-point lead inside the final minute. But a Falcon turnover and two Garland free throws finally sealed it.
For 27 minutes and 37 seconds, the Spartans led.
On this night, at 7,000 feet, they also endured and for a team that has worn its struggles visibly all season, that may matter most.
;)
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