USU runs past Fresno State to get back on winning track
Before the contest with Western Athletic Conference foe Fresno State, Utah State coach Stew Morrill labeled it as a “bounce-back game,” a chance for the No. 21-ranked Aggies to rebound from a 64-56 stinging loss at Idaho Wednesday night.
Fueled by a 23-2 run to end the first half, USU (23-3, 12-1 WAC) ran past the Bulldogs (11-14, 5-8 WAC) 71-55 Saturday night and claimed at least a share of the WAC regular season title.
USU shot only 34 percent from the field — five of 28 from the 3-point line — in Moscow, Idaho, as the Vandals snapped a 25-game WAC winning streak by the Aggies. Against FSU, however, USU shot 60 percent from the field in the first half, and ended the game 21-of-43 from the field.
“Tonight we made some 3’s, but didn’t fall in love with the 3,” Morrill said of his team’s seven 3-pointers on 16 attempts. “But we aren’t celebrating yet. We want to win it outright.”
USU was outscored by Fresno State 36-31 in the second half, which Morrill was quick to point out.
“We played really well the first half and the first five minutes of the second half,” Morrill said. “But I told these guys we need 40 minutes not 25.”
USU led by as many as 26 points in the second half.
Nate Bendall tied for game-high scoring honors for the Aggies, as he and Brian Green each got 13. Bendall, a senior, also snared eight rebounds, and agreed with his coach.
“We really need to string two halves together,” Bendall said. “It’s a cliche, but practice is the key. It’s just a mindset and down the stretch we need to make it happen every game.”
USU scored 30 points in the paint, compared to 16 by the Bulldog big men.
“Our bigs early on were not playing with any aggression whatsoever,” Fresno State coach Steve Cleveland said. “We missed out on six or eight points early in the game where we could have made a run, but didn’t. When you are one foot from the basket you should score and we didn’t.”
The Bulldogs (11-14, 5-8 WAC) were led by Nedeljko Golubovic with 15 points and Bracken Funk with 14 points and a team-high six rebounds, the third-consecutive game freshman Funk has scored in double figures.
Bendall agreed: “The inside game is fundamental for us as a team. If we can get the inside game going early, they have to respect that and our outside shooters get some open looks.”
Green, a reserve guard who hit 5-of-5 3-pointers and scored 25 points against WAC foe San Jose State last month, shot three of six from the field Saturday. Tai Wesley and Pooh Williams added 10 points for the Aggies.
“It was nice to hit some shots and get off that goose egg,” Green said. “I haven’t scored in the last couple of games, but that’s OK. I don’t really care about points as much as winning. We could have played better in the second, but it was good to get out of the slump.”
Green said the Aggies are already planning on their televised matchup with St. Mary’s on Feb. 19, part of the ESPN BracketBuster series, before getting back to WAC games.
“This win is pretty good, but we want to win it (conference title) out-right. We don’t want to tie,” Green said. “I think we’ll get it done. We’ve got a big week next week, so we need to worry about that first.”
USU has won 31 straight WAC games at home and 39 of its last 40 overall. The last WAC team to beat USU in Logan was FSU on March 3, 2007.
USU’s 23 wins are tied for the sixth-most in the nation and the Aggies have won 29 straight home games, third- longest active winning streak in the nation.