Woods Helps USD Past San Jose State

Kelvin Woods scored nine of his team-high 15 points in the final 6 1/2 minutes as the University of San Diego turned a tied game into a 62-54 nonconference victory over San Jose State on Saturday.

San Jose State was attempting to win its first game of the season, and after leading at halftime, 24-22, the Spartans tied the game, 46-46, on a three-point play (layup and free throw) by Kevin Logan with 6:31 left.

USD, however, scored the next six points and held at least a four-point lead from there.

Forward Gylan Dottin began the 16-8 run down the stretch with a 12-foot baseline jumper at 6:01. Forward Woods then hit a five-footer, and guard Wayman Strickland converted two free throws.

Dottin finished with 12 points, making three of four field goals and six of seven free throws. Strickland and forward Reed Watson added 11 apiece. Woods, the Toreros leading scorer, had 12 of his 15 in the second half.

Dottin also had eight rebounds and three steals.

“Dottin played great defense and hit a couple of key shots, and down the stretch Woods played well,” USD Coach Hank Egan said. “Those two really stepped up for us tonight.”

USD (5-3) helped itself with 18-of-28 free throw shooting. San Jose State (0-5) only went to the free-throw line six times and made five.

After making only eight of 25 field goals in the first half, USD improved to 12 of 22 in the final 20:00 to finish at 42.6%.

The Toreros also had good numbers in the turnovers (nine) and fouls (13) categories.

The Spartans got 16 points each from forwards Logan and Daryl Scott.