Utah State flips the script on UNLV in dominant quarterfinal win

LAS VEGAS — In a building that sounded more like the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum than the Thomas & Mack Center, Utah State finally flipped the script against UNLV.

Backed by a traveling crowd of Aggies and a dominant defensive effort, Utah State rode 44 combined points from Mason Falslev and MJ Collins Jr. to an 80-60 win over the Rebels in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West basketball tournament.

Utah State defeats UNLV, 80-60

The Aggies, who lost both regular-season meetings with UNLV, dictated the game in the areas that hurt them most in those earlier matchups: the paint and turnovers. Utah State outscored the Rebels 40-26 inside, forced 19 turnovers and turned them into a decisive 23-3 edge in points off turnovers.

“I thought it was just a really good team effort by us on the defensive end,” Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “Any time you can turn a team over 19 times, your defense is clicking on all cylinders.”

Utah State’s defensive presence was evident from the opening minutes. Zach Keller rejected Jacob Bannarbie at the rim on UNLV’s first possession, setting the tone for a night in which the Aggies consistently disrupted drives and interior passing lanes.

The Aggies finished with 12 steals, many coming in the paint as guards swiped the ball on gathers or jumped passing lanes after drives collapsed the defense.

“We were in our gaps pretty heavily today,” Drake Allen said. “Defense is about five guys. It’s not about one guy guarding the ball. All five of us have to guard the ball.”

Utah State’s offense took longer to settle in. Early possessions were marred by sloppy passes and over-dribbling, but the Aggies began to find their rhythm midway through the first half.

The spark came on the defensive end. Tucker Anderson doubled a Bannarbie post-up and poked the ball free, leading to a Kolby King lob to Collins for a dunk. Moments later, Falslev pump-faked a 3-pointer and floated in a runner through contact.

From there, Utah State’s All-Mountain West backcourt tandem took control.

With just under eight minutes left in the half, Falslev stripped Howie Fleming Jr. to trigger another runout, leading to a corner 3-pointer from Collins. Falslev then scored 10 points during a late first-half surge, cutting to the rim off screens and hitting a pair of difficult shots late in the shot clock.

Collins added transition finishes off defensive stops, and the Aggies went into halftime leading 37-23. By themselves, Collins and Falslev had already combined for 28 points.

“We just kind of piggyback off each other,” Collins said. “When one of us has it going, it opens up the game for everybody else.”

The start of the second half looked much like the first.

Collins blocked a layup attempt from Fleming, Collins and Adlan Elamin intercepted passes on consecutive possessions, and Utah State repeatedly turned UNLV mistakes into fast-break points. The Aggies finished with 14 points in transition.

UNLV briefly threatened to make a push. Walter Brown recorded a block that led to a Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn basket, and Fleming and Kalani Hamilton hit back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the margin.

But Utah State never allowed the momentum to swing.

Falslev continued attacking the paint through off-ball actions, Collins knocked down a 3-pointer and later stole an inbound pass that he took coast-to-coast for a dunk. Meanwhile, Karson Templin provided a physical presence inside, grabbing five rebounds and drawing 10 free-throw attempts in just 18 minutes.

“We just tried not to settle and get into the paint,” Falslev said. “I just tried to make the right plays when I could.”

The Aggies’ physicality showed up on the glass and at the free-throw line as the lead steadily grew. By the final minutes, Utah State had pushed UNLV’s turnover total to 19 and effectively closed the door on any comeback.

Falslev finished with 24 points and nine rebounds in a performance that reflected why he was named Mountain West Player of the Year. Collins added 20 points and four assists, with the two guards combining for six steals.

Utah State’s defensive execution also limited Mountain West scoring leader Gibbs-Lawhorn for most of the night. The UNLV guard was held in check until late in the game as the Aggies focused their defensive attention on him.

“You have to have awareness on scorers,” Calhoun said. “You can’t let him get shots off.”

The Aggies also benefited from a strong showing from their fans, who traveled well enough to noticeably shift the atmosphere inside the arena.

“You walk in here, and it should be a home-court advantage for them,” Falslev said. “But you look out there, and there’s a lot of Aggie blue. Energy is contagious, so it definitely helps.”

Allen said the crowd made the neutral-site game feel familiar.

“It feels like the Spectrum,” he said. “When they start doing the Scotsman, you know it’s game time.”

For Utah State, the win also carried extra motivation after dropping both regular-season games to the Rebels.

“We knew this was our last chance,” Collins said. “There’s a saying — it’s hard to beat a team three times.”

With the victory, Utah State advances to the Mountain West tournament semifinals, where the Aggies will face No. 5 Nevada on Friday night in Las Vegas.