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Phil Calvert, a San Jose State University guard drives to the basket through a slew of Southern Methodist University defenders. JaShong King/Daily Staff [Click to enlarge]

Less than 48 hours after his squad had upset Western Athletic Conference leader University of Hawaiíi at the Event Center, 57-53, the fiery and intense Barnes spent no time lavishing praise on his Spartans.

Instead, he expected his club to take its first WAC win in stride.

ìWe finally played some defense for long periods of time instead of turning it on for only five or six minutes. I just hope we can stay together and look to improve now,î said Barnes, who was ejected from Saturdayís win following his second technical foul. ìI donít get caught up in the ups and downs of the season. We need to keep these guys on an even keel. Iíve always said I want these guys playing their best basketball at the end of the season.î

Heading into the final weeks of the season, Barnesí players seem to have received the message he is delivering.

ì(Saturdayís victory) was a big win, no doubt about it. But weíre not looking at the win-loss record. Weíre just trying to improve so we can play our best basketball at the end of the season,î said forward David Granucci, who garnered WAC Player of the Week honors after posting a career high 17 points and seven rebounds at Hawaiíi. ìLook at Hawaiíi last year. They were playing the best ball out of anyone in the conference and they won the WAC tournament. Thatís what weíre trying to do.î

The Hawaiíi matchup was the victorious culmination of a tumultuous Western Athletic Conference season opening schedule for the hard-luck Spartans.

Beginning Dec. 27 with a 91-85 loss to the University of Nevada-Reno until a Jan. 12 78-61 loss to Louisiana Tech, the Spartans lost their first six WAC contests.

The string included a Jan. 5, 66-65, loss at the University of Texas-El Paso when Miners forward Roy Smallwood caught an air ball shot attempt by teammate Justino Victoriano underneath his own basket and scored with 0.1 seconds remaining.

ìIt was frustrating. Weíd have to come to practice the next day after a loss and wouldnít have any rewards to show for it,î said junior guard Brandon Hawkins. ìIt was just like life though. When you get down, you canít quit.î

After making his debut against the College of Notre Dame on Dec. 18 with 18 points, Hawkins, who has been one of the few bright spots for the Spartans, has scored in double figures in all 10 of the games he has played.

ìHeís been a good defender for us and I can put him on the opponents best perimeter player,î Barnes said. ìSince heís been the full time point guard, our assist to turnover ratio has gone down tremendously.î

Barnes also applauded Hawkins for being a leader on the floor, something his team was lacking at the beginning of the season.

ìI just try to support my teammates, thatís all. Itís just my nature I guess,î said Hawkins, who is ninth in the WAC in scoring (15.4 points per game) and fourth in assists (4.1 apg).

SJSU attempts a winning streak with road games on Thursday at the University of Tulsa and on Saturday at Rice University.

Tulsa (5-1 WAC, 14-3) leads the all-time series with SJSU 13-0 and Barnes was quick to admit that The Reynolds Center is one of the toughest WAC venues to play at.

ìThey have a great crowd and one of the toughest offenses in the nation,î Barnes said. ìWe have two tough games coming up and weíll be underdogs in both of them.î

The Golden Hurricane features one of the most balanced scoring attacks in the nation as four starters ó led by senior guard Greg Harrington (14.4 points per game) and junior guard Dante Swanson (14.3 ppg) ó average double figures in scoring. A fifth, junior forward Charlie Davis, averages 9.9 points per game.

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