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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 3:43 p.m., Saturday, December 20, 2008

NBA: Pierce, Oliver lead San Jose St. to 89-78 win

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Tim Pierce scored a career-high 26 points to help San Jose State beat Northern Colorado, 89-78, today.

Washington transfer Adrian Oliver scored 27 points in his Spartans' debut, just becoming eligible before San Jose State (4-3) played its first game in 12 days.

Devon Beitzel scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Bears (3-7), who fell to 1-5 on the road. Chris Kaba added 12 points and Jabril Banks and John Pena each had 11 for Northern Colorado, which is in the midst of playing five games in seven days in three different western states (Colorado, California, Nevada).

Justin Graham set a career-high with 13 assists, eight in the first half. The 10th assist was a deliberate pass off the backboard on a fastbreak that turned into a Pierce slam.

The Spartans scored their season-high in points and allowed their season-high for points.

Pierce sank his first four shots, all 3-pointers and finished with a career-high six long-range shots.

Beitzel hit his first seven shots, two from long range, and the Bears made 14 of their first 18 attempts. Beitzel finished 12-of-14 from the floor.

The Spartans shot 60 percent in the first half to take a 44-37 halftime advantage.