SAN JOSE, Calif. — After missing three weeks because of a torn bicep, Hawai'i cornerback Jeramy Bryant was going to make sure no big opportunities bypassed him, too.

"This was my first game back and I wanted to make some plays," said Bryant, who was sidelined since the Boise State game on Oct. 24. "I was away too long."

Bryant, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior, broke up two passes — the biggest one on fourth down in overtime — and recovered a fumble to help UH stave off a San Jose State threat in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Bryant also was in on five tackles for the Warriors who, at 5-6, kept alive their hopes of an appearance in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl with a 17-10 victory.

UH must win out against Navy and Wisconsin to become bowl-eligible and represent the Western Athletic Conference in the Dec. 24 game at Aloha Stadium.

With the score tied at 10 and San Jose State driving in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter, defensive tackle Tuika Tufaga jarred the ball loose from running back Lamon Muldrow and Bryant recovered the ball at the UH 39.

Later, on the Spartans' last-gasp, fourth-down attempt in overtime, they targeted their record-setting receiver, Kevin Jurovich.

Bryant recalled the moment: "Here we go. I missed almost four weeks and I was there to make a play. The coaches did a great job of putting us in position and God put me in position and I made the play."

Bryant broke up the pass attempt near the sideline. "I should have made the (interception)."

Not that anyone with UH was complaining.