Holly and jolly Aggies sink the Buccaneers
LOGAN – Aggie fans observed a true holiday special tonight at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum as Utah State (12-1) pulled out a 80-65 win over the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers (7-5). The Aggies improved their win streak to 11 straight.
The Aggies started the game with Great Osobor, Darius Brown II, Mason Falslev, Isaac Johnson and Mountain West Conference player of the week Ian Martinez.
The Buccaneers started Karon Boyd, Quimari Peterson, Ebby Asamoah, Jaden Seymour and Jadyn Parker.
USU won the initial tip-off, and Falslev scored a quick layup, drawing the foul and converting the free throw. Buccaneer Seymour responded, scoring two quick three-pointers. Seymour scored the most in the first half with 13 points.
East Tennessee had a strong defensive presence early on, which made it difficult for the Aggies, forcing them into seven total turnovers in the first half compared to the Buccaneer’s five.
The Aggies’ defense forced the Buccaneers into two shot clock violations in the first half.
Brown got the fans into the game with 9:33 left in the first half as he drove the ball up the lane through three Buccaneers.
The Aggies capped an 11-0 run after Jackson scored a three-pointer assisted by Brown. Boyd ended the Buccaneers’ scoring drought with 3:57 left to play in the first half.
Brown took control of the final three minutes of the half, scoring a fast break layup and a deep three-pointer. The Aggies shot 33.3% from the field on 11-28 shots. They shot 50% from three and 72.7% from the free throw line during the first half.
The second half kicked off with a powerful dunk from Osobor, who had only scored one point in the first half. Buccaneer Braden Ilic fouled out early in the second half after a hard foul on Osobor, who would score one of the two free throws.
Buccaneer Peterson scored a jump shot over Osobor and Johnson at the 15:01 mark.
Referees called a technical foul on Aggie Martinez, who expressed his displeasure after he thought he was fouled.
Martinez scored a wide-open jump shot after a screen by Josh Uduje. This was Martinez’s eighth game scoring in double figures this season.
Parker exited the game early after he earned his fifth foul of the game with 11:13 left to play after going up against Kalifa Sakho.
Falslev connected with Brown on a long full court pass at the 9:45 mark. Seymour cut the deficit to nine with a three-pointer with 9:14 to play. Seymour would end the game with 30 total points, leading both teams.
Brown sped through the offensive lane past two Buccaneers for a solo layup. Seymour slipped past two Aggie defenders for a layup, bringing the deficit for East Tennessee within 10 points again.
With 4:52 left to play, Martinez slammed down an alley-oop assisted by Brown.
Osobor added his own slam dunk after Brown connected with him on a breakaway. Osobor logged his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Uduje hit double figures himself after scoring two three-pointers about a minute apart in the final three minutes of regulation.
Jackson sealed the win for USU and gave all the fans in attendance ice cream with a three-point shot with only 23 seconds left to play.
Brown, who logged 19 points and eight assists, was named player of the game. Brown is the only Aggie since the 2010-11 season to have at least six assists within 12 games in a season.
The Aggies shot 66.6% on 24-36 shots. The Buccaneers shot 60% on 21-35 shots from the line.
USU’s bench corps combined for a total of 22 points compared to the Buccaneers’ four. USU is now 7-0 when the bench outscored its opponents.
“It’s a great feeling. But we are 0-0 now. Conference play is a whole new season, and the conference tournament is a new season as well,” said Brown post-game. Brown added there is a bit of a chip on the team’s shoulder after USU was picked ninth in the Mountain West standings, but he believes the team will be fine.
Head coach Danny Sprinkle was very proud of the team overall in the victory.
“Once we started getting some stops and we got our energy going defensively, it sparked our offense,” Sprinkle said.
In preparation for the Air Force game, which is just six days away, Sprinkle said, “We got to get more disciplined.”
“We will come back and get at it after the 27th,” Sprinkle said, adding that the six day break will be good for the team. He encouraged the team to “get away from basketball” during the break and enjoy time with their families during the holiday.
USU takes on the Air Force Falcons on January 2, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Clune Arena.