SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State men's basketball team held on for a 76-74 victory over visiting Cal State LA on Faculty Appreciation Night at the Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza.
San Francisco State (12-7/8-6 CCAA) overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to best the Golden Eagles (11-9/7-7 CCAA).
- The Golden Gators have won their last seven contests vs. Cal State LA dating back to January 5, 2017.
- SF State's defense held Cal State LA to 1-of-9 to end the game.
- The Golden Eagles, who built their leads with 13 three-pointers, were shooting 12-of-27 but were also held to 1-of-9 from deep to end the game.
- Jiday Ugbaja led all players with 20 points. That marked the 13th game in which he's reached double digits, and 12 of his last 13 games.
- Ryne Williams scored 14 points with seven rebounds. Jase Wickliffe added 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 from deep.
- Chiefy Ugbaja made his first appearance since being sidelined January 3. He tallied five points, shared a game-high eight rebounds, dished out three assists, and had three steals. Two more steals and he'll become tied for second all-time in program history.
- Matt Arrivas shared the team lead with eight rebounds.
- Fard Muhammad led the Golden Eagles 17 points. Jihad Woods added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
The Gators jumped out to a 7-3 lead only to fall behind by eight. Three consecutive buckets from
Tyler Jackson cut the lead to two but a pair of threes from Muhammad and a Kenneth Cyprian layup pushed the deficit to 10. The Gators hung around and Williams' three-pointer with just under seven to go cut the Golden Eagles lead to three.
Jiday Ugbaja cut the lead to two yet again and
Zane Paddon's layup gave SF State its first lead in over 12 minutes. The Golden Eagles regained a four-point advantage but a Wickliffe putback on a missed three beat the buzzer and sent the Gators into the locker room trailing by just two, 45-43.
Cal State LA began the half on a 9-2 run and the Gators found themselves playing catchup yet again. Another Cyprian layup made it an 11-point deficit with 14 to play. The Gators still trailed by six at the 11-minute mark. Arrivas cut the lead to six with a layup at the eight-minute mark, then a minute and a half later, saved ball from going out of bounds and whipped it to the far side for the corner three to cut it to Wickliffe, who nailed the wide-open three. Jiday Ugbaja made it a one-point ballgame with a jumper. Ryne Williams stepped back from a screen and Jiday Ugbaja passed back to Williams, who gave the Gators their first lead of the second half, 72-70, with his second three of the night.
Tied at 72-72,
Jiday Ugbaja finished a layup on the left side but a foul at the other end allowed the Golden Eagles to tie the game at 74-74 thanks to a pair of free throws.
Jiday Ugbaja was fouled with 15.3 seconds and made the front end free throw to put the Gators up one. Wickliffe came up with a steal with a second left and Ugbaja was fouled with .01 left on the clock. He made his first free throw and intentionally missed the second.
The three-game homestead continues on Saturday, February 2. The Gators take on Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m. Be sure to follow San Francisco State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstate_mbb.
