Las Cruces, NM -- (Sports Network) - DaShawn Wright scored 17 points, leading four players in double figures, as the San Jose State Spartans slipped by the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 64-62, in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Pan American Center.

Tim Pierce added 16 points and a team-best nine rebounds for the Spartans (13-18), followed by C.J. Webster and Chris Oakes with 13 and 11 points, respectively. With the victory SJSU will now take on top-seeded Utah State in the quarterfinals of the tourney on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (6-24) were paced by JC Clark who tallied 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting behind the three-point line. Kyle Gibson contributed 14 points and Drew Washington 13 in the setback.

The Spartans shot just 1-of-5 behind the three-point line in the first half, yet the team still posted a 31-27 advantage at the break.

In the second half SJSU made up for an 0-of-4 effort out on the perimeter with 53.8 percent success from the field overall to capture the slim two-point win.

LaTech made good on an impressive 12-of-26 from three-point range on the night, but the team was beaten on the glass, 39-27, and outscored at the free-throw line, 11-4.