Spartans win home opener 89-63
SJSU out rebounds William Jessup 62-26 en route to first victory of the year
Alicia Johnson
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Sports
In his first game playing collegiate basketball, forward Chris Jones had no trouble finding a rhythm.
He scored 13 points and made more than 70 percent of his shots, aiding the Spartans in a 89-63 victory over the William Jessup Warriors Monday night at the Event Center.
"Chris is a good player, and that is why he was in our starting lineup," head coach George Nessman said. "I know for a lot of people, a true freshman in the starting lineup is a little unusual, but Chris can handle it."
Jones said the level of competition was stronger and faster than he expected.
"I was nervous at first before the game," Jones said. "Starting, I kind of expected. The last couple of scrimmages we had the coach had me starting."
Nessman said playing Jessup in the Spartans' home opener was a good test.
"We have a lot of respect for Jessup," Nessman said. "We played them last year in the St. Mary's tournament, and they really battled us last year, and they won their conference.
"I know people look at them and say that they are not a division-one school, but they've got scholarship athletes that are serious about competing at a college level too, and they really came to play."
Opening the game, center Chris Oakes slid in a successful layup, giving the Spartans a lead they never lost.
Moments later, guard Justin Graham sank a big 3-pointer, and the Spartans took 9-0 lead.
With more than 11 minutes before halftime, guard Adrian Oliver stole the ball from Warrior guard Lucas Domingue, passed it down the court to forward Jones, who finished the play with a dunk, giving the Spartans a 20-9 lead.
Later in the half, Robert Owens hit another big 3-pointer with 5:49 left in the half, providing SJSU with 33-16 lead.
The Spartans led the Warriors 46-31 at the end of the first half.
Starting the second half, SJSU went on a 18-7 run, giving them their largest lead of the game, 28 points.
The Warriors shot 30 percent from the floor, and the Spartans shot 46 percent.
In the end, the Spartans had 21 turnovers and starting guards Justin Graham and Adrian Oliver gave up 11 of them.
Graham said the team was a little out of control.
"I'm happy with the victory," he said. "But there is a lot improvement that we could have."
Graham had a game-high 18 points.
"It helps when you're taking a lot of layups," Graham said. "I just try and take good shots."
The Spartans dominated the glass, out reboundin g the Warriors 62-26.
In his Spartan debut, sophomore forward Kyle Thomas came off the bench and scored 12 points and five rebounds.
He scored 13 points and made more than 70 percent of his shots, aiding the Spartans in a 89-63 victory over the William Jessup Warriors Monday night at the Event Center.
"Chris is a good player, and that is why he was in our starting lineup," head coach George Nessman said. "I know for a lot of people, a true freshman in the starting lineup is a little unusual, but Chris can handle it."
Jones said the level of competition was stronger and faster than he expected.
"I was nervous at first before the game," Jones said. "Starting, I kind of expected. The last couple of scrimmages we had the coach had me starting."
Nessman said playing Jessup in the Spartans' home opener was a good test.
"We have a lot of respect for Jessup," Nessman said. "We played them last year in the St. Mary's tournament, and they really battled us last year, and they won their conference.
"I know people look at them and say that they are not a division-one school, but they've got scholarship athletes that are serious about competing at a college level too, and they really came to play."
Opening the game, center Chris Oakes slid in a successful layup, giving the Spartans a lead they never lost.
Moments later, guard Justin Graham sank a big 3-pointer, and the Spartans took 9-0 lead.
With more than 11 minutes before halftime, guard Adrian Oliver stole the ball from Warrior guard Lucas Domingue, passed it down the court to forward Jones, who finished the play with a dunk, giving the Spartans a 20-9 lead.
Later in the half, Robert Owens hit another big 3-pointer with 5:49 left in the half, providing SJSU with 33-16 lead.
The Spartans led the Warriors 46-31 at the end of the first half.
Starting the second half, SJSU went on a 18-7 run, giving them their largest lead of the game, 28 points.
The Warriors shot 30 percent from the floor, and the Spartans shot 46 percent.
In the end, the Spartans had 21 turnovers and starting guards Justin Graham and Adrian Oliver gave up 11 of them.
Graham said the team was a little out of control.
"I'm happy with the victory," he said. "But there is a lot improvement that we could have."
Graham had a game-high 18 points.
"It helps when you're taking a lot of layups," Graham said. "I just try and take good shots."
The Spartans dominated the glass, out reboundin g the Warriors 62-26.
In his Spartan debut, sophomore forward Kyle Thomas came off the bench and scored 12 points and five rebounds.
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