Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Adrian Oliver scored 20 points and hit a pair of free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining to lift San Jose State to a 61-59 win over  Hawai`i Saturday night at Walter McPherson Court. Oliver's free throws capped a wild comeback win for the Spartans who scored seven unanswered points in the final three minutes.

 

UH (13-15, 5-10 WAC) held a late five-point lead but couldn't hold and on with the loss dropped to eighth place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with one league game remaining. The Spartans (13-14, 6-8 WAC) maintained its sixth place standing and completed just its second-ever season sweep of UH and first since 2003.

 

Despite putting itself in prime position for a key road win, Hawai`i lost its third straight game by going scoreless in the final 3:35. UH took a 59-54 lead on a Hiram Thompson three-pointer but the Spartans rallied back. Oliver's jumper with 16.7 seconds remaining tied the game at 59-59. The 'Bows had a chance to reclaim the lead when Bill Amis was fouled and sent to the free throw line with nine seconds remaining. Amis missed both free throws and Adhar Mayen grabbed the offensive rebound off the second miss. But Mayen had the ball stolen from Deshawn Wright who started a Spartan fast break that ended with UH being assessed an intentional foul on an Oliver layup attempt with just 3.8 second left.

 

Oliver sank both free throw attempts to put the Spartans up by two. SJSU retained possession and Oliver was fouled again. He missed both free throws and UH had one last gasp effort after calling a timeout. However, Thompson heave from just inside the half court line fell well short at the buzzer.

 

The game was close throughout with neither team leading by more than five points. The were a total of 14 lead changes in the game, including 10 in the second half.

 

Roderick Flemings led UH with 20 points, while Thompson finished with 14 points and four three pointers. Amis tallied 10 points and nine rebounds and Kareem Nitoto finished with seven points, six rebounds and seven assists. 

 

The 'Bows now return to Honolulu to play its regular-season finale at home versus New Mexico State on Saturday, March 7 in a crucial game for WAC Tournament seeding. A Hawai`i win, coupled with a Louisiana Tech loss to Idaho on Thursday night, in the final week of action would secure the seventh seed and keep UH out of the “play-in” game for the upcoming WAC Tournament in Reno, Nev.