BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Defenses Rest: San Jose Defeats Pacific, 64-47

San Jose State and Pacific put on an offensive show Saturday night in a Big West Conference game at San Jose, combining for 111 points and 1,218 total yards.

San Jose won, 64-47, as Matt Veatch completed 18 of 30 passes for 371 yards and Maceo Barbosa rushed for 126 yards.

The Spartans, 4-2 overall and 4-0 in the Big West, led 40-29 at halftime, but Pacific (2-5, 1-1) came back to tie the score, 40-40.

The Spartans regained the lead on Joe Nedney’s 18-yard field goal with 1:48 left in the third quarter, and then on their next possession, they scored on Shon Ellerbe’s three-yard run with 10:18 left in the game.

With 6:30 remaining, San Jose State’s Simon Vaoife intercepted a wild shovel pass by Pacific quarterback Troy Kopp at the UOP 45. Two plays later, Veatch threw to Walter Brooks for a 35-yard play, and the Spartans led 57-40.

With 4:21 left, Kopp and Aaron Turner combined for a 32-yard pass play that made it 57-47.

Kopp completed 28 of 47 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns. Turner caught nine passes for 222 yards, marking the ninth straight game he has gained at least 100 yards in receptions, tying an NCAA record.

San Jose, however, retaliated 20 seconds later with a 32-yard pass play from Veatch to Leon Hawthorne for a touchdown.

Fresno State 42, New Mexico State 28--This Big West game at Las Cruces, N.M., was a lot closer than expected, considering Fresno State two weeks ago scored a 94-17 victory over New Mexico, a team that had beaten New Mexico State, 17-10.

The Aggies led, 28-21, in the third quarter and the score was tied, 28-28, going into the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0) scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to prevent an embarrassing road loss for the third consecutive season.

Fresno State last season lost at Northern Illinois, 73-18, and in 1989 the Bulldogs were stunned at New Mexico, 45-22.

Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney gave New Mexico State credit for the closeness of Saturday’s game.

“New Mexico State hit us harder than any team we have played this year, including the two Pac-10 teams,” Sweeney said. “They had a great game plan.”

Sweeney and Aggie Coach Jim Hess hugged at midfield after the game, and then Sweeney visited the New Mexico State locker room, telling the Aggie players: “We were not flat today. We played as well as we could offensively and we played as hard as we could play.”

Fresno State assumed control of the game on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Anthony Daigle and a two-yard score by Lorenzo Neal to stave off the Aggies (0-6, 0-2).