Box Score

HONOLULU - Keith West's running lay-up with :03.5 seconds remaining lifted San Jose State past Hawai'i, 55-54, Saturday night, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Spartans (6-15, 3-9) snapped the Rainbow Warriors' 24-game home winning streak and took both games of the season series.

The game featured 17 ties and 13 lead changes. In the last minute, the lead changed sides four times until West's game-winner. San Jose State's Scott Sonnenburg hit two clutch 3-pointers in the final 1:35, including a rainbow with 0:15.9 left to put the Spartans ahead 53-52. UH's Mark Campbell hit two free throws with 0:11.6 remaining to give the 'Bows its final lead.

The 'Bows had one last chance to win the game but Campbell front-rimmed a 23-footer and his putback came just after the buzzer sounded. The win marked the Spartans' first road win this season and UH's first home loss in 13 chances this year.

Forward Phil Martin led UH with 17 points and six rebounds before fouling out at the 7:20 mark. Guard Michael Kuebler added 11 points. Guard Carl English was held to just nine points, nearly 11 below his season average. The junior finished 3-of-15 from the field, including 0-of-7 from 3-point range.

The first half was a see-saw affair as the largest lead was just three. Nkeruwem Akpan's jumper with 0:46 remaining gave the 'Bows a 25-24 lead at the break.

Hawai'i used an 8-2 run at the start of the second half to take the game's largest lead at seven, 33-26, with 15:54 left. Over the next 7:49, the Spartans out-scored UH, 13-2, to take a 39-35 lead.

After Martin picked up consecutive fouls, a fastbreak offensive charge and an illegal pick, which fouled him out of the game, the 'Bows got tough. English made two free throws to pull UH to 41-39 and back-to-back baseline jumpers by Kuebler and Haim Shimonovich, gave the 'Bows a 43-41 lead with 5:34 left.

West answered with a lay-up to tie and Eric Walton's putback put SJSU ahead 45-43 with 3:55 remaining. After a media timeout, Shimonovich's jumper off an inbounds pass tied the game at 45. Walton answered again with another field goal in the lane but Akpan's lay-up from Kuebler tied it at 47.

Sonnenburg struck with his first trey to put the Spartans ahead 50-47. On UH's next possession, English drove the lane for his second bucket of the second half. After SJSU failed to score on its ensuing possession, English found Campbell under the bucket for a lay-up plus the foul. Campbell converted the free throw for a 52-50 UH lead.

The 'Bows will host Nevada on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.



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