USU men tramples Mustangs on the road
After getting on top of Cal Poly early in the first half, defensive lapses kept the Mustangs hanging around. But when the Aggies needed a spark Thursday, senior John Neil was there to provide it.
“They were really getting after it,” Neil said of the Mustang run. “We called a timeout … buckled down, got some boards and made some shots.”
Scoring seven points in less than three minutes, Neil jump-started the USU attack, sparking a 25-4 run. And, in the end, the Aggies walked away with their fifth-straight win, a 81-57 victory.
“I told him after the game that he had a little bit of a mean look,” Morrill said of Neil. “I said if that helps you, do it every game.”
Neil finished the night with nine points and four rebounds.
Senior Spencer Nelson provided most of the offensive power for Utah State Thursday, scoring 18 points and distributing eight assists.
Nelson’s ball-handling also put the Mustangs in a difficult situation, as forwards Nick Enzweiler and Joe Henry were unable to matchup with Nelson’s quickness. Both Enzweiler and Henry sat much of the second half in foul trouble.
“They couldn’t guard [Nelson] off the dribble,” Morrill said. “And he knew it.”
After rolling his ankle in the Aggies’ last game, Carroll made up for lost time Thursday scoring eight points in the first half and finishing the game with 12.
But Carroll came down hard on his ankle once again Thursday and was sidelined early.
To start the game Thursday, the Ags jumped out early on the Mustangs, 13-4, behind 3-pointers from Carroll and guard David Pak.
USU led by as much as 16 in the first half, but a late offensive run, led by Henry and Dawin Whiten, brought Cal Poly within 10 at the break.
In the second half, the Mustangs came out running and closed the gap to five. But, behind Neil and Nelson, the Aggies started to pull away.
A 25-4 run sealed the deal for USU, improving the Ags’ record to 7-3 in conference play.
Suffering a stress fracture in his foot earlier this season against Idaho, Aggie Marques Crane has been sidelined for most of the season.
Thursday Crane saw limited action and finished the night with one point.
Saturday Utah State will play its fourth-straight road game when it matches up with UC Santa Barbara (4-6, 7-11).
“It’s going to be a whole different kind of game at Santa Barbara,” Morrill said. “But we need to feel good about this win for 24 hours or so.”
-acf@cc.usu.edu
Aggie Nate Harris drives around a Cal Poly opponent Jan. 8 in Logan. The Aggies defeated Cal Poly on the road 81-57. (Photo by John Zsiray)