Ag basketball tops UC Davis in Logan
A school record 77.8 shooting percentage and great bench play vaulted Utah State’s basketball team to an 81-55 victory over UC Davis. The California Aggies will be taking USU’s spot in the Big West next year when USU heads to the Western Athletic Conference.
Utah State improved its record to 3-1 while UC Davis evens out at 1-1.
“I had no idea we shot that well. I just knew we weren’t getting any offensive rebounds,” Stew Morrill said. “We didn’t miss a lot of shots but it was a non-flow type game.
“They disrupt you by trying to deny everything, you have to make plays. It wasn’t a real pretty basketball game but we did what we had to do and we got a win.”
The Aggies missed only eight shots during the game going 13-17 from the field in the first half and 15-19 in the second. UCD shot a dismal 38.6 percent for the game and had a hard time getting anything going to compete with Utah State.
“The basketball gods shine on you sometimes, you take it when you can get it,” Chris Huber said.
Bench play for the Aggies was also a big boost. Cass Matheus came out and scored 16 points and one block.
Matheus said getting loose under the basket was the main thing. He also said playing against the bigger guys from UC Davis was better than the earlier games because he doesn’t like playing against small guys.
Huber, who is coming off an ankle injury, started to play like Aggie fans remember him playing last season shooting 3-3 and 2-2 from behind the three point line. He also added four assists and one steal.
“We didn’t play as well as we could have,” Huber said. “The guys got in a good offensive flow and we moved the ball pretty well and we got a lot of lay-ups. That is what kept our percentage so high.”
Spencer Nelson also did his part to keep the shooting percentage high going 6-6 and making 6-11 free throws. He had a total of 18 points to go along with is two assists and 10 rebounds.
“I don’t know if I need to close my eyes or what,” Nelson said about missing his free throws. “Once a week we shoot a series of 100 free throws and I was 100-109.”
Morrill’s concern at the point guard position was evident on Saturday night, playing four different players at that position. Utah State did have 18 assists to only 11 turnovers but starter David Pak had just six points two assists and three turnovers.
“We’ve got a ways to go there,” Morrill said. “Huber gives us real solid play. We’ve just got to get some of those other guys some experience. Obviously Pak had a tough time and didn’t play early well and got to sit by me for a while. I didn’t think he was quite ready to go, but he’ll learn.”
Morrill also said he wasn’t particularly happy with the way the Aggies played defense. He said they executed the game plan well on defense but when it came to straight up man-to-man defense USU got beat many times.
“When you look at these stats, how in the world should I complain,” Morrill said. “I should not be complaining, that tells you what coaching does to you, it makes you a complete idiot. You win by 26, you shoot 78 percent, hold them to 38 percent, you have 18 assist and 11 turnovers, and I’m in here complaining.”
Jaycee Carroll, who along with Nelson carried the team in the Top of the World Tournament in Alaska, scored just four points with one assist and three turnovers and he fouled out.
“He’s a freshman,” Morrill said. “I don’t know what else to say about his performance tonight. Just live and learn.”
The Aggies have a big couple weeks coming up against big in-state rivals Brigham Young University on Wednesday, University of Utah on Saturday then Weber State University on Dec. 11.
“We’ll have our hands completely full this week and there is no doubt about that,” Morrill said.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu
Utah State Chris Huber drives against a UC defender Saturday night in the Spectrum. (Photo by John Zsiray)