Spartan Daily

Spartans Stage Comeback Over Cal State Bakersfield

Jason Reed

SJSU freshman guard D.J. Brown drives toward the basket on Monday night at the Event Center.

The SJSU men’s basketball (7-13) team got a much-needed break outside Western Athletic Conference play Monday night at the Event Center.

The Spartans hosted the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (11-10) and snapped a five-game losing streak with a 78-70 come-from-behind victory.

The win seemed improbable early in the game when the Roadrunners started with a 21-3 lead just a few minutes into play, including an 18-0 run over a period of 5:28.

“They got off to a great start against us,” head coach George Nessman said.  “We were lethargic, but also they’re energy was just better.”

In a game that matched two undersized teams that average a high number of three-point shot attempts per night, the Roadrunners were able to strike first.

However, the Spartans answered with their own 12-2 run and cut the Cal State Bakersfield lead to nine points with seven minutes to play in the first half.

That lead was cut again to four points with six minutes to play in the half when SJSU managed to force the Roadrunners into turnovers, leading to open baskets on the offensive end for the Spartans.

“Once we got our feet set, we started playing good basketball,” Nessman said.  “D.J. got us rolling.”

SJSU was led the entire game by freshman D.J. Brown in only his fourth start of the 2011-12 season, and he would lead the Spartans’ back into the game by going three of three from three-point range in the first half.

“Once we got things going, (Nessman) knew we were going to make a run,” Brown said.  “He trusts us as a team.”

The Spartans followed their 12-2 run by continuing to fire from three-point range, including back-to-back made baskets by Brown and senior Calvin Douglas, and SJSU managed to grab a one-point lead heading into halftime with Brown already tallying a career-high 16 points.

“When you’re behind, you cant worry about being behind,” Nessman said.  “You have to worry about playing good basketball.”

The Spartans fed the ball inside the paint to senior Wil Carter and freshman Stephon Smith, the tallest players on the court, to start the second half, and they were able to hit the first four Spartans shots from the floor.

However, Cal State Bakersfield junior Adam Young kept the Roadrunners even with SJSU by making four straight shots, including two three-pointers, and Cal State Bakersfield was back up 55-54 with 12 minutes to play in the game.

Brown would answer, as he did all game, making his fourth and fifth three-pointers amid a Cal State Bakersfield scoring drought with seven minutes to play in the game.

His three-pointers capped a 13-3 run and gave the Spartans a 64-55 lead.

“He’s a really good player,” Cal State Bakersfield head coach Rod Barnes said about Brown.  “We knew he could play.  We gave him too many looks and we didn’t cover him well.”

The Roadrunners would fight back after a three-point play by junior Mo Hughley followed seconds later by another three-point play by junior Issiah Grayson, dwindling the SJSU lead down to three points with 1:30 to play in the game.

However, Brown added another three pointer, his sixth of the game, and the Spartans made four of six free throws down the stretch as SJSU defeated Cal State Bakersfield 78-70.

“It was a really hard-fought game and really physical,” Nessman said.  “It wasn’t a blow-out, but we out-played them by a little bit and that’s why it’s indicative of the score.”

Brown finished the game with 33 points, going 9 of 11 from the floor and making six of seven shots from three-point range.

He is the first SJSU freshman in school history to score 30 points in a game.

“Just to be mentioned after such a long history is always amazing,” Brown said.  “I’ve been getting the extra shots, I’m trying to put in the extra work and my jumper started to fall tonight.”

Nessman said Brown is just coming together as a player at SJSU.

“He’s learning to attend to detail a little more,” he said.  “Making six of seven from three-point range is a good night for any player, but he’s an outstanding shooter and it is not a shock that he made those shots.”

For Nessman, it was the biggest comeback he has been a part of in his seven seasons as the Spartans’ head coach, as well as the team’s third double-digit comeback win of the season.

“Every time we come back it’s a great feeling,” Brown said.  “I think this one was much-needed because of the losses we had recently. It feels great, but it’s just one win and we have to keep fighting.”