SAN FRANCISCO — A poor start to the second half proved costly as the San Francisco State men's basketball team saw a one-point halftime lead evaporate into a 79-62 loss to visiting Stanislaus State on Sunday afternoon.
- The loss was the third straight for the Gators (5-7/2-4 CCAA).
- SF State shot 50 percent (10-of-20) in the first half but struggled in the second half. SF State went just 7-of-25 (28 percent) including just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from deep. In the first half, SF State built its lead in large part to 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) shooting from long range.
- The Warriors (7-3/3-2 CCAA) had four players in double digits, led by Darius Scott with 17. Xavier Francois, Luis Salgado, and Vida Faniel were equally as effective with 15 points apiece.
- Alex Manu led SF State with a season-high 14 points. Jordan Balser recorded his fourth double-digit performance of the season with a dozen points in the loss.
- Tyler Jackson scored 11 points and led all players with nine rebounds and a pair of blocks.
- The Gators' leading scorer, Linton Acliese, was held scoreless in the first half and was limited to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.
- SF State won the rebounding battle, 29-26.
- Stan State outscored the Gators 28-20 in the paint.
The Gators started slow and quickly trailed 15-5 before going on a run of their own and cutting the lead to 17-12. Manu buried back-to-back threes, then made the first of two free throws to pull the Gators within one.
Two minutes later,
Jase Wickliffe knotted the game at 21-21 with a three-ball but the Warriors answered with the next five points.
The Gators chipped back into the lead and tied the game at 5:30 on a
DJ Sylvester three-pointer. The Warriors again went up by four but Balser answered with a three and Jackson scored the final four points of the half. Jackson missed the back end of two free throws but a lane violation gave him a second chance and he made it to send the Gators into the locker room with a 37-36 halftime lead.
SF State missed its first five shots while the Warriors rattled off a 9-0 run to start the half and turn the tables, 45-37. Acliese scored the next four Gators points but the Warriors continued to pound the ball inside. Francois got to the free throw line and made one of two to put the Warriors up 10 with 14:25 to go. Still down 10 with under 10 to play, the Gators had opportunities to cut the lead back to double digits but offensive fouls and turnovers prevented them from getting closer. Over the final four minutes, eight of Stan State's 13 points came at the free throw line.
The Gators head to CSUN for an exhibition on Sunday, December 22 at 3 p.m.
