Aggies to host Wolf Pack
If Utah State basketball plans on making a push toward the top of the Mountain West standings, the team must start with the next game.
Nevada comes to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday after snapping a nasty seven-game conference losing streak, edging last-place San Jose State on the road 60-57. It was the Wolf Pack’s third win this season in the tumultuous Mountain West, and their road doesn’t get any easier.
Nevada’s next four games come against teams above .500, beginning with a Utah State squad that dealt the Wolf Pack a 16-point beatdown in Nevada back in January. Key to that victory was an off night for Nevada’s shooters, who recorded a season-low 35 percent field goal shooting, a stat USU head coach Stew Morrill did not believe to be a factor Tuesday.
“They had a poor shooting night when we played them in Reno,” Morrill said. “So I don’t anticipate that that will happen to that degree. That was a tough night for them shooting the ball and fortunate enough for us to get a win.”
The lone offensive weapon for the Wolf Pack in January’s matchup was center AJ West, who scored 18 points and snagged nine rebounds in 31 minutes of playing time. Forward Robyn Missa added eight points of his own, but the remaining three Nevada starters shot a miserable 3-of-27 from the floor.
“They are dangerous,” Morrill said. “This league is proving that anything can happen any night. Nevada had a shot to beat San Diego State a couple games ago.”
The Aggies will have to pay special attention to the rebounding battle Tuesday, as West typically dominates the boards, even on the offensive end.
“They are an extremely good rebounding team, which is not our strength obviously,” Morrill said. “The stat that jumps out at you is A.J. West has more offensive rebounds in conference play than our entire team. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen something like that 11 games in, for a guy to have more offensive rebounds than the entire other team.”
Sophomore wing Jalen Moore will look to lead the Aggies, having scored a season-high 22 points in his last outing against the Wolf Pack. Moore posted 19 in Saturday’s win at New Mexico, assisted by three other starters in double-figures and a double-double from freshman forward David Collette.
“We had to make plays,” Morrill said. “Everybody had to step up. Chris Smith had a really good shooting night. Jalen (Moore) of course gets 19, I believe. A lot of different guys did a lot of good things.”
USU has a chance to move up in conference standings over its next five games, playing teams near the bottom of the conference over the next two weeks. However, Morrill plans on doing things the way he has all season, preparing a game at a time.
“We’re just trying to play Nevada,” Morrill said. “I know it’s coach speak, but I don’t think we’re in a position to look past one game. We’re two games out of first.”
— logantjones@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @Logantj