Utah State men finally post a pair of back-to-back road wins
After notching back-to-back wins with a victory over San Jose State on the road, USU will look to get its first road sweep of the season as they face the Warriors on Saturday in the Stan Sherriff Center.
USU defeated Hawaii in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum 77-72 on Jan. 26. Medlin had 25 points in the victory, and freshman Ben Clifford chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Junior center Vander Joaquim, who leads the Warriors with 14.8 points per game, scored 24 points against the Aggies, and junior forward Hauns Brerton scored 15 points off the bench.
Hawaii out-rebounded USU 48-28 in Logan. Joaquim pulled down 14 rebounds and junior forward Joston Thomas grabbed 10 rebounds to go with 14 points.
“Obviously their size and their rebounding advantage they had on us in Logan will certainly be huge factors in that game,” said USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “We’ve got to do a better job of rebounding to have a chance in that game.”
Senior guard Brockeith Pane was USU’s leading rebounder with six rebounds.
Despite USU’s victory at home, Morrill feels his squad may see a different Hawaii team on the road.
“You have to prepare for Hawaii like they can be, not like they are when they play you poorly,” Morrill said. “They have had trouble away from the Island, but they have been pretty dang salty on the Island. The biggest thing will be can we match up with them physically? If we can’t, game over.”
Playing with enthusiasm will be another key factor for USU.
“It’s a quiet group and we’re constantly on them that they’ve got to say something,” Morrill said. “It’s got to come from them. They got a little bit fired up when things got going in the second half. When you have some emotion, it’s always going to help you.”
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu