After two halves and five overtime periods, San Jose State lost to South Florida 41-39 in the Hawaii Bowl on Tuesday night.

The Spartans have not won a bowl game since 2015 and have lost their last four bowl appearances.

“We were close, we had a couple plays we could have made, a couple coaching decisions by me I could have made to help us win,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “Lot of tears in the locker room right now, lot of hugging and crying.”

In the fifth overtime period, SJSU got the ball second after a score by USF to start the period. Quarterback Walker Eget’s pass intended for Justin Lockhart was deflected, ending the game and the Spartans’ season.

“The week was great, but it was not the finish that we wanted, so we can’t really be happy at this moment,” Eget said.

The Bulls led 21-10 at the half but were outscored by the Spartans 17-6 in the second half.SJSU took its first lead of the game on the back of a momentum-shifting interception by linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin that set the Spartans up with the ball on the 2-yard line after a 27-yard return.

Spartans freshman running back Lamar Radcliffe punched it in, giving SJSU the 27-24 lead.

But after a 72-yard punt by the Bulls’ Andrew Stokes, the Spartans were forced to punt with 53 seconds left.

A 13-yard return from USF’s Sean Atkins set the Bulls up in prime position to drive down field.

Six plays later, the Bulls were set up for a 41-yard kick by John Cannon that tied the game up at 27 and sent the game to overtime. It was the first time the Spartans played extra football since their Week 4 loss at Washington State.

Same story, different game >> SJSU had two turnovers and let USF return a kickoff for a touchdown.

“It’s kind of been the story of our losses,” Niumatalolo said of turnovers and special teams mishaps. “I think we lead the country in turnovers, and it’s hard to win games doing that.”

The Spartans drove down the field on their second drive and appeared to take a 7-0 lead on a reception by wide receiver TreyShun Hurry, but the touchdown was nullified after review revealed he fumbled the ball and it hit the pylon, resulting in a touchback.

“It took a lot of wind out of our sails,” Niumatalolo said of the touchback. “One thing I talked about to our team was the thing that happens in bowl games that kills you are turnovers and special teams, and unfortunately proved prophetic in that.”

Late in the second quarter SJSU had cut the lead to 14-7, but it immediately gave up a 93-yard kick return to USF’s Ta’Ron Keith, making it 21-7.

“The kick return killed us, too,” Niumatalolo said. “If we don’t have that, I don’t think the game is close.”

Conservative play calls >> The Spartans were up 27-24 with 53 seconds left in the game with the ball on their own 14-yard line. They decided to punt the ball on fourth and 1, which ultimately gave the Bulls the chance to tie the game and send it to overtime.

“I should’ve went (for it),” Niumatalolo said. “I probably will not be able to sleep for the next year thinking about it.”

Niumatalolo had to weigh the options, knowing that a failed attempt could mean a loss or overtime, giving the Bulls the ball on the 14. But a successful attempt would have ended the game and given the Spartans their eighth win of the season.

“I had to make a split-second decision,” Niumatalolo said. “And unfortunately I made the wrong one.”

The Spartans were successful on all three of their fourth-down conversions Tuesday night.

Bright future >> Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Matthew Coleman filled in for 2024 Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist Nick Nash and led the Spartans in receiving with 119 yards on 12 receptions with 75 yards after catch. He hauled in one touchdown in the first overtime and a two-point conversion in the third overtime.

“I feel good about next year,” Niumatalolo said. “It’s hard to look at the future after a game like that.”

Niumatalolo recalled the Spartans being picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West, calling this season something to build off for next season.

He also said he looks forward to next year’s roster.

“Pretty much our whole o-line is coming back, our whole running back room is coming back, our two quarterbacks who played are coming back,” Niumatalolo said. “We’ve already got some commitments in the transfer portal at wide receiver that we feel good about, we got some edge players that we’ve recruited so the future is bright.”