ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — Jase Wickliffe led the San Francisco State men's basketball team to a 76-65 victory over Sonoma State on Saturday. The junior set a new career-high with 18 points and matched his career mark in rebounds with a game-leading seven.
Good ball movement helped the Golden Gators (10-5/5-4 CCAA) pull away from the Seawolves (6-8/4-6 CCAA) midway through the second half.
- San Francisco State has now won its last eight contests vs. the Seawolves dating back to February 9, 2016.
- The Gators entered play averaging 14.3 assists per game. They had a dozen at the half and finished with a season-high 22. Jordan Balser led the Gators with a career-high five.
- San Francisco State was 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from deep and remains undefeated when shooting over 40 percent from behind the three-point line.
- Ryne Williams added 16 points with four three-pointers, five rebounds, and a pair of blocks.
- Jiday Ugbaja added 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, dished out four assists, and had four steals.
- Balser and Michael Diaz each chipped in eight points apiece.
- Isaac Davidson led the Seawolves with 18 points.
The two teams combined to make their first seven three-pointers.
Ryne Williams's layup was the first interior shot of the game and gave the Gators a 14-9 advantage at the 14-minute mark. Back-to-back Seawolves layups gave them their first of the game at the 13-minute mark but the Gators answered on the next trip down with a Williams three. Back-to-back layups from the Gators with three minutes to go grew the lead. The Seawolves kept it close though and Armani Nicolis' shot at the buzzer trimmed the Gators' lead to 38-36 at intermission.
Less than a minute into the second half, Jodan Hickman drew a crucial fourth foul on Zane Paddon and tied the game with his second free throw. Davidson's layup with 18:35 to go put the Seawolves back in front and SF State Head Coach Vince Inglima called timeout. The Gators regained the lead on the same possession thanks to a Wickliffe three and Niquis Garland's steal led to a layup for Michael Diaz. The Gators went back down three but a Wickliffe three-point play knotted it at 46-46 and he added another layup to put the Gators back up 48-46. The Gators never trailed again. The Seawolves trailed by two with 10:59 to play but the Gators pushed the lead to double digits with a 13-4 run capped by another Wickliffe three. The Gators led by no fewer than seven over the final eight minutes.
San Francisco State returns home on Thurssday, January 17 vs. Stanislaus State (6-7/3-6 CCAA) at 7:30 p.m. That is also Staff Appreciation Night. The first 100 San Francisco State staff members to arrive at the night's doubleheader will receive a free SF State lapel pin. Live stats and video will be available, and be sure to follow San Francisco State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstate_mbb.
