Lobos take Aggies out of top spot in the Mountain West

The stage was set Saturday night with over 10,000 fans packing the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum for the highly awaited matchup between the top two teams in the Mountain West Conference.

However, by the final buzzer, the Utah State University Aggies found themselves on the wrong end of an 82-63 loss, dropping them from their perch at the top of the conference.

The Aggies struggled offensively out of the gate, shooting just 22% from beyond the arc. Utah State relied on their bench players and the energy of the Spectrum crowd to hold their lead over the University of New Mexico Lobos in the first half.

Heading into the locker room at the end of the half, the Aggies led 36-30 and continued to control the pace for the first few minutes into the second half. But as missed opportunities piled up, the Lobos capitalized.

“We had wide-open looks,” said head coach Jerrod Calhoun. “By far our worst shooting performance of the year. But you can’t let your offense dictate how you’re going to compete and how you’re going to play.”

Key scorers Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev had a combined 14 points, with Ian shooting 0-7 beyond the arc. The two typically average over 30 points together and lead the team in scoring.

With key players not hitting shots, the frustration built, and Calhoun remarked even though they were getting good looks, they couldn’t overcome mental hurdles to keep them in the game offensively.

Drake Allen was one of the Aggies who found offensive success against the Lobos, scoring 14 points on the night. Allen made key baskets and defensive stops that kept the Aggies alive in the first half and led them into the locker room with the lead at halftime.

“I think we are one of the best teams in the conference,” Allen said. “I think we all believe it. I think we missed shots today, and we had a great game plan.”

Allen said the great game plan wasn’t executed with enough heart.

The Aggies have relied on pace and high-intensity play this season, particularly at home. Against the Lobos, they capitalized on steals and quick ball movement, scoring 12 fast-break points while allowing none. Dexter Akanno and Deyton Albury were key contributors, finishing with 10 and 12 points, respectively.

Eventually, that energy ran out defensively and in transition, Allen said in a post-game press conference.

Playing a physical matchup like New Mexico took a toll on the usual depth of the Aggie bench. After an ankle injury benched Tucker Anderson in the middle of the first half and another injury took Akanno out of the game, the Aggies had to look elsewhere.

“Players have got to step up and lead in the tough times during the game,” Calhoun said, quoting advice Stew Morrill gave the players previously this season. “Make plays and have a lot of confidence. Those kids will do it. They’ll bounce back.”

Not able to take the lid off the basket, the Aggies looked to the paint and faced fouls that sent them to the charity stripe where they shot a little over 43%. Free throws have been a recurring struggle for the Aggies this season, as Falslev went 0-for-2 and Martinez shot 2-for-7 from the line.

Allen said free throws and shooting are key to slowing down fast-paced teams like the Lobos that are great in transition.

The Lobos matched their first-half total of 30 points in just 14 minutes of the second half, exposing the Aggies’ struggles on the defensive end. With 12 minutes remaining, New Mexico took a commanding lead that Utah State couldn’t answer.

With defensive energy at a low, the Aggies struggled to make offensive decisions, doubling their turnovers in the second half with six minutes still left to play in the game.

The loss marked Utah State’s third of the season, a reality check for a team that has exceeded expectations, above all at home.

“No one expected us to be where we are, except us,” Allen said. “We knew what we had was special, and we just didn’t show that tonight.”

With two road games ahead and only three days until their next game, the Aggies will have to regroup quickly.

“We have to let this one sting a little,” Allen said. “We’re not proud of the way we played, but we’re going to use it as motivation to bounce back.”

Their response to the games ahead, especially as the season is closing in, is something Calhoun said he’s excited to see, believing the players will bounce back through adversity.