Basketball holds off UVU
Utah State’s 69-63 win against Utah Valley University in Orem on Saturday was a night of firsts for two Aggies.
Freshman guard Marcel Davis recorded his first start at Utah State while sophomore center Matt Lopez made his first appearance after being ineligible for the first semester due to transfer rules.
Davis led all Aggies in scoring with 17 points on 6-10 shooting while Lopez impressed coaches with eight points, including a few dunks.
The first half was closely contested with many ties and lead changes. However, when Davis made a layup with 1:36 remaining in the first half, the Aggies gained the lead at 34-32. Utah State led the rest of the game.
The Aggies would stretch the lead to 12 with 7:24 left to play but the Wolverine’s hot shooting from beyond the arc kept them in the game, bringing them within four with 10 seconds left.
Utah State shot well from the free throw line, making 8 of 10 including two in the final seconds to put the game out of reach.
Junior forward Jarred Shaw recorded his third double-double on the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds. This was Shaw’s sixth-straight game scoring double figures.
Only Shaw and Davis scored more than 10 points for Utah State. However, every player who checked in scored, providing much needed depth.
The Aggie bench players responded well, outscoring Utah Valley’s bench 17-0. Even though he didn’t score much, sophomore forward Ben Clifford made an impact on the boards, grabbing five rebounds in 14 minutes of relief for senior forward Kyisean Reed, who had four fouls.
Utah Valley has never beaten Utah State and the Aggies lead the all-time series 8-0.
Utah State returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on December 20 against Nicholls State for the World Vision Challenge sponsored by Gossner Foods.
–sean.osullivan@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @seansy89