Ags end non-conference schedule with win
In their final tune up before starting Western Athletic Conference play, the Utah State men’s basketball team cruised to a 76-55 win at home Saturday night over Oral Roberts.
Utah State jumped out to a 20-4 lead and never looked back. The Aggies now have a 10-5 record on the season.
“Coming back off the break it was encouraging,” USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “Our team is getting better.”
Utah State showed a well-balanced offensive attack as four different players scored in double figures. Leading the way was junior big man Gary Wilkinson, who scored 15 points to go along with eight rebounds. Freshman Tai Wesley and senior guard Jaycee Carroll each scored 14 points while Stephen DuCharme came off the bench to score 10 in addition to pulling down eight boards.
“Everybody was contributing,” DuCharme said. “That pretty much sums it all up.”
Morrill agreed.
“We had balanced scoring,” Morrill said. “We knew they were going to try and do a good job on Jaycee.”
Wilkinson recognized that the Aggies usually need Carroll to score for the Aggies to win, but Saturday night was a sign of how well the Aggies can play together, he said.
Wesley came out with a spark and provided early points for Utah State. He scored all 14 of his points and recorded seven rebounds before halftime. Morrill feels that Wesley’s first-half performance was probably the best half of his young career.
“He was as good as he’s been,” Morrill said. “That’s maybe his best half of the year.”
With as good as the first half was for the Aggies, the second half saw Utah State commit 14 turnovers. It really didn’t matter, though, as the outcome of the game was never in doubt.
“We were able to come out with a ‘w’ and that’s what counts,” DuCharme said.
Morrill said when the game was on the line the Aggies played well and picked up a good win over a great team.
“I really thought we played pretty good basketball for 25 to 30 minutes of this game,” Morrill said. “We played pretty well against a good team.”
Utah State shot 52 percent from the field while the visiting Golden Eagles only converted on 30 percent of their shots.
“In fairness to them I have been in their situation before, when you have a Christmas break and then you have to travel,” Morrill said. “That’s a tough combination.”
The win marks the fourth time in three years that the Aggies have beaten Oral Roberts.
“We feel fortunate to have played them four times and won all four,” Morrill said.
Utah State now heads into conference play as they open up against Hawaii at home on Thursday. They have now won four games in a row and seven out of their last eight.
“This is the time to be shining,” DuCharme said.
-sam.bryner@aggiemail.usu.edu