Aggies roll in final tune-up
Maybe it was due to last week’s first half performance or maybe it was the full week of practice, but the Aggies wasted no time jumping on the Concordia Stingers Saturday night en route to a 74-60 victory.
Aggie big men sophomore Tai Wesley and senior Gary Wilkinson led USU with 14 points each, while sophomore Tyler Newbold chipped in 13, including three 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Unlike the USU’s first exhibition game, the Aggies came out on fire on both ends of the court. The Ags started the game hitting 10 of their first 11 field goal attempts, and crashing the boards. Just over eight minutes into the game, the Aggies held a 23-6 lead.
The onslaught continued during the rest of the first half, as the Stingers had no answer for the Aggie attack. Heading into the locker room, USU held an 18-point advantage.
“We expected Utah State to shoot 3-pointers and they did, and we also expected Tai Wesley to be a beast, which he was,” Stingers head coach John Dore said. “Utah State shot the ball extremely well, partly because we allowed them to have open looks.”
Playing with more energy and cohesiveness than in their first game, the Aggies looked to be in complete control.
However, similar to last week, this game was a tale of two halves.
In the second half it was the Stingers who came out with the fire and intensity. Concordia used a 13-0 run to open the period and pull within five, 45-40. The Stingers were aided many of the Aggies 19 turnovers.
“I’m disappointed in the turnovers and I’m disappointed in the way we started the second half,” Morrill said. “I have no idea why they came out and went on a 13-0 run and we were not ready to go at the start of the half. I have no idea what happened, but we will get better.”
Redshirt freshman guard Jaxon Myaer echoed his coach’s thoughts.
“The team’s just got to firm up,” Myaer said. “In the WAC the pressure is going to be a little more tough, so we’ve got to cut that down and get ready to go for the season.”
After their hot shooting in the first half, the Ags must have cooled off during the intermission. USU missed its first seven shots of the second period, including many that had been falling earlier in the game.
Despite giving up a big lead to an inferior team, the Aggies were able to go on a run. Freshman forward Brady Jardine ended the drought, then Newbold extended the lead back to double-digits with one of his 3-pointers.
The Ags were again able to extend the lead, but the Stingers managed to stay within striking distance. The outcome of the game was never really in doubt after that, but when it was over neither Aggie coaches nor players were happy with the outcome.
“The first half was a lot better then the second half,” Wilkinson said. “I think we mentally collapsed, we just didn’t take it seriously. We came out not ready to play and thought we would just get one handed to us.”
Wesley agreed.
“Give them credit, they came ready to play in the second half,” he said. “They came out to play us, you know, make it a game, which we didn’t handle very well.”
Quayle still learning the point
Junior transfer Jared Quayle has been learning the point guard position since arriving at Utah State.
Quayle has been a shooting guard throughout his career, so the switch hasn’t come without some bumps in the road. Some of those bumps came in the form of four of the Aggies 19 turnovers against Concordia.
“He’s a little loose with the ball, he’s got to be stronger with it,” Morrill said. “He’s definitely not used to the kind of pressure he’s going to see at this level so it’s an adjustment and he’ll make the adjustment.”
Play of the game
There were two candidates for play of the game. The first was a nice put-back by junior forward Clint Lee. Lee cut to the basket and out jumped two Stinger defenders to tap in a missed jumper 10 minutes into the game.
The basket was negated by an offensive foul on Matt Formisano, so the honors go to sophomore sharpshooter Tyler Newbold. Newbold did his best Jaycee Carroll impression knocking down a 3-point basket under pressure. Newbold was fouled on the play and sunk the free-throw to complete the four-point play.