SAN FRANCISCO — After starting 2019 on the road for three games, the San Francisco State men's basketball team welcomed Stanislaus State to campus for the Gators' first home game of the calendar year. However, the Golden Gators didn't come home to the result they wanted in an 81-76 loss to the Warriors.
SF State allowed the Warriors (7-8/4-7 CCAA) to shoot 51 percent (25-of-49) from the field including a staggering 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from deep. Both marks are the most conceded to an opponent this season with the 60.9 percent being a season-high for the Warriors. Meanwhile the Gators (10-6/6-5 CCAA) fell despite making a season-high 13 three-pointers and shooting a season-best from distance themselves at 44.8 percent (13-of-29).
- Jase Wickliffe matched his career-high 18 points, set just five days earlier in a win at Sonoma State. This time, he did it on 6-of-6 shooting from deep. He added a team-high three steals, three rebounds, and a pair of assists.
- Jordan Balser and Jiday Ugbaja each added 11 points apiece. Ugbaja dished out a game-high five assists.
- Seven-footers Tyler Jackson and Ryne Williams both finished with nine points apiece and shared the team lead with six rebounds apiece. Jackson's season-high nine points all came in the first half. He was tied for the lead in scoring at the half.
- SF State outscored the Warriors 28-16 but points off of turnover proved costly: Stanislaus State held a 13-8 advantage.
- Andy Cleaves led the Warriors with 15 points and was one of five Stanislaus State players in double digits.
Jordan Balser got the scoring started with a layup but the Warriors hit three consecutive three-pointers and the Gators found themselves in a quick seven-point hole. A Ty Davis three-ball grew the deficit to nine at the 15-minute mark.
Niquis Garland kept the Gators in it with a couple of threes himself but the Warriors stretched the lead back to nine on a Davis steal and finish by Rolaun Dunham with 10 minutes to go. A Dunham three-pointer gave the Warriors their largest lead of the half at 13. An 8-0 Gators run trimmed the lead to four, which is what they trailed by at the half, 36-32.
The Gators tied the game up in less than a minute thanks to back-to-back layups by Zane Paddon and Ryne Williams, then grabbed the lead at the 15-minute mark on Jordan Balser's three-point that made it 50-48 in favor of SF State.
Another Wickliffe three grew the lead to five but it was short-lived. The Warriors tied the game and went ahead on a pair of Rolaun Dunham free throws. Another Balser three gave the Gators a brief lead, then
Michael Diaz gave the Gators the lead at the 10-minute mark with a three-pointer from the top of the key that banked in.
The Warriors went on a costly 10-0 run that put the Gators down eight with less than seven minutes to go. The deficit grew to 10 on a Ty Davis three-pointer with 1:38 to go. An Ugbaja layup with 23 seconds left cut the lead to four but the Warriors iced the game with four free throws.
San Francisco State heads south for a pair of games, Thursday, January 24 at Cal State San Bernardino, and Saturday, January 26 at Cal Poly Pomona. CSUSB will provide live coverage and Saturday's women's and men's doubleheader will be broadcast on ESPN 3 as part of the NCAA Division II Showcase. Be sure to follow San Francisco State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstate_mbb.
