Ross takes advantage of chance to start
Ronnie Ross was finally getting used to coming off the bench.
After losing his starting job to Cardell Butler at the BYU game on Dec. 14, Ross had become accustomed to coming in and taking over for Butler.
The tables were turned Thursday, as three quick three-point buckets by Ross pulled the Aggies ahead, and eventually led to an 81-67 victory over Cal Poly in the Spectrum.
“He played well starting and that was nice to see,” said Aggie Head Coach Stew Morrill. “He was very comfortable. Now we just have to get Cardell playing like he can. He is a much better player than you are seeing right now.”
Ross finished the game with 12 points off 4-for-8 shooting and pulled down four rebounds. Butler added four points in 15 minutes of action.
Missing in action
The Mustangs knew he would be a productive returning member of their squad. What the Aggies saw Thursday was a completely different story.
Guard Steve Geary came back from a midseason back injury last year to receive the Big West Conference “Sixth Man Award.”
This season, Geary has been averaging 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds in 26.4 minutes off the bench — definitely living up to title.
Against Utah State, though, the senior only recorded one basket and a free throw. He was 0-3 from behind the arc in 20 minutes of action.
Geary will have another chance to show the Aggie he was deserving of the award as USU travels to San Luis Obispo, Ca. on Feb. 8.
Coming home
Logan may not exactly be home for Cal Poly’s Eric Jackson, but it is as close as the Mustangs will travel this season.
Jackson, a native of Provo and graduate of Provo High School, said he enjoys playing Utah State, not only because it is a good basketball program, but his family and friends are able to see him play.
The junior guard said he returns to Provo during the summer to stay visit his family.
And as much as Jackson said he enjoys Utah, going west was something he had to do.
“[It was] just a chance to get away and move to California,” he said. “[Cal Poly is] a great school with a good program.”
Injury report
Aggie center Mike Puzey said he groin is 100 percent healed.
Big West Standings
Conference Overall
W L W L
Pacific 2 0 7 4
CSF 3 1 5 8
Cal Poly 2 1 6 6
USU 2 1 11 3
UCSB 2 1 5 8
UCI 1 1 7 4
Idaho 1 1 5 6
UCR 1 2 2 7
LBSU 0 1 1 9
CSN 0 2 6 6
Quotables
“You’ve got to dare to make the plays and you’ve got to dare to take the butt-chewing,” Morrill said of Spencer Nelson’s three-point attempt early in the first half. He was unsuccessful.
“I’m sure everyone was holding their breath and going, ‘you idiot,'” Nelson on try for a trey.
By the numbers
8,497 — paid attendance against Cal Poly.
50-2 — Utah State’s record at home against Big West opponents over the past seven years.
22 — points off turnovers by the Aggies.
20 — points scored by Desmond Penigar. It was the fifth time this season and the 14th time in his career.
18 — how many more rebounds the Aggies pulled down than the Mustangs, 38-20.
17 — bench points by Utah State.
4 — blocks by Varnie Dennis. He became the Cal Poly career block leader with 78. The Mustang also scored 14 points.
4 — Aggies in double figures (Penigar, Ross, Nelson 16 and Toraino Johnson 10). It was the first time they had done so since the championship game of the BWC Tournament against UC Santa Barbara last year.
2:05 — minutes fans were left clapping until USU put in its first basket of the second half.
1 — time the scored was tied,10-10.
–juag@cc.usu.edu