Aggies fall and whimper at BYU
Sloppy play and poor shooting in the first half doomed the Utah State basketball team as it fell, 80-68, to Brigham Young University on Wednesday in Provo.
The Aggies started the game hitting four of their first seven shots, including consecutive 3-pointers by senior guards Chris Smith and Darius Perkins, but shot just 4 for 28 the rest of the half and trailed 39-24 at the break.
The scoring droughts that have plagued USU at times this season returned in this game, as the first period included two different dry spells of four or more minutes. Over the final 6:46 of the half, the Aggies had as many turnovers (four) as points.
The Cougars dominated the Aggies in the paint, out-rebounding the visitors, 44-41, for the game, and had a 26-20 edge in the first half. BYU also nearly doubled up USU in points in the paint, 42-to 22. To top it off, the Aggies were blocked eight times, including six in the first half alone.
Despite the offensive struggles, USU stayed relatively close through much of the first half, tying the Cougars 12-12 after two made free throws by junior forward Lew Evans with 13:55 left.
The defense couldn’t overcome the poor offense, though, as the Aggies hit only three shots over the next seven minutes and the Cougars opened up a double-digit lead. BYU shot 6 of 12 over that stretch, including two 3-point shots by senior guard Chase Fischer and another two 3s by freshman Nick Emery.
The home team continued its dominance in the beginning of the second half, eventually stretching the lead to 20 after a 3-point shot by Fischer. He finished 4 of 9 from behind the line and led both teams with 24 points.
The Aggies fought back, closing within 12 with 12:24 left in the half after a layup by sophomore forward Elston Jones, but BYU immediately responded with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to stretch the lead back to 20.
The Cougars eventually opened up a 22-point lead, their largest of the game, with 3:18 left. Utah State hit three 3-pointers down the stretch and added a free throw by junior forward Jalen Moore to cut the final margin to 12, but it was far too little, too late.
Moore finished as the leading scorer for the Aggies with 15 points on 6 of 17 shooting. He added six rebounds, three steals and a block.
Smith finished with 12 points on 5 of 11 shooting and added five rebounds. Jones ended the game with seven points and two rebounds.
Emery finished with 17 points on 6 of 13 from the field and had six rebounds. Former Aggie Kyle Davis led both teams with 14 rebounds, including six offensive, and scored 14 points.
The next game for Utah State is a home matchup with UC Irvine on Saturday at 7 p.m. It is the first of four home games before Christmas for the Aggies. USU will begin Mountain West play with a road game against San Jose State on Dec. 30.
— thomas.sorenson@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @tomcat340