Russell Larson scored 25 points as Brigham Young defeated winless San Jose State 74-61 in the first round of the Cable Car Classic Thursday night.
Robbie Reid added 17 points for BYU (8-3), which plays Santa Clara Friday for the championship. Tito Addison had 14 points for San Jose State (0-7), which is off to its worst start ever. The 1958-59 team lost its first six games.San Jose State plays Alaska-Anchorage Friday for third place.p
BYU broke open a close game with a 12-0 second-half run during which the Cougars held San Jose State scoreless for more than six minutes.p
After the Spartans' Marmet Williams scored with 8:26 left in the game to pull San Jose State within 57-52, Larson converted a three-point play and added another basket to start the 12-0 run. San Jose State did not score again until Alfonso De La Nuez made two free throws with 2:07 to go, making the score 69-54.
Larson had 19 points in the first half, which ended with Brigham Young leading 39-35. San Jose State led 16-11 before the Cougars went on an 11-2 run that put them ahead to stay.
Mike Brotherton had 11 points, nine in the first half, for San Jose State.