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It’s close. It’s so, so close. The college basketball season starts in four days, and teams across the country are doing everything they can to prepare for their season openers.
Almost every team in the country plays an exhibition game or two against a smaller school, usually a Division II or III college. This provides an opportunity to gauge their team’s progress against somebody other than themselves. More importantly, these scrimmages provide fans with a look at the team so that we can generate these #takes before the season starts.
Boise State 91, Northwest Christian 76
The Broncos showcased a balanced offensive attack with four players in double digits. Justinian Jessup and Chandler Hutchison led the way with 15 each, while Nick Duncan had 14. (Stats)
San Jose State 96, Cal State-East Bay 80
The Spartans were efficient on offense as they just barely missed the century mark. They shot 51.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three, but most impressively, they went 36-40 from the charity stripe. (Stats)
Nevada 88, San Francisco State 58
Potential Player of the Year Cameron Oliver led the way with 21 points in just 22 minutes. He also anchored the defense that held San Francisco State to just 36.1 percent from the field. (Stats)
UNLV 92, New Mexico Highlands 66
Marvin Menzies’ team showed flashes of potential in this victory. Jalen Poyser looked poised to be “the guy,” and poured in 21 points to lead the Runnin’ Rebels. (Stats)
Utah State 83, Southern Virginia 55
Jalen Moore will get a lot of the recognition this year, but Koby McEwan showed why he’s worth the hype. McEwan was a perfect 7-7 from the floor and snagged five rebounds to accompany his team-high 19 points. (Stats)
New Mexico 88, Eastern New Mexico 66
With Elijah Brown sitting out due to a hamstring injury, Tim Williams showed why he and his teammate are considered the best 1-2 combo in the conference. Williams had a double-double (21 points, 14 rebounds) to lead the Lobos to the easy win.
San Diego State 76, California-San Diego 63
The score of this was closer than one would expect from the unanimous conference favorite, but the Aztecs should not be concerned. They proved once again that they will be a tough out with their usual play style: depth and defense. (Stats)
Wyoming 75, Chadron State 50
The Cowboys showcased an aggressive attack, and outscored their opponent 34-16 in the paint. Jason McManamen spearheaded the charge with 15 points and played a major part in the Cowboys’ 16 fast-break points. (Stats)
Fresno State 76, Cal-State San Bernadino 69
The conference’s lone tournament bid showed that there will be an adjustment period to adapt to the departure of Marvelle Harris. Paul Watson assumed the go-to guy role with 19 points, while Jaron Hopkins and Deshon Taylor had 13 apiece. (Stats)