Rival BYU hasn’t been in Spectrum since ’95
The Utah State Aggies (3-2) host in-state rival BYU (5-0), the Aggies oldest rival, Wednesday in the Spectrum. This is game three of USU’s five-game home stand, and the Aggies are looking for redemption after a tough loss to the Cougars last year at the EnergySolutions Arena, 68-63.
The Aggies routed Southern Utah University Saturday night, 89-49. Freshman guard Preston Medlin had a breakout performance, scoring 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, with all five shots coming from behind the 3-point line. Aggie junior forward Pooh Williams had a good performance as well and scored 17 points of his own, hitting 6-of-7 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
“We wanted to use this game to get us ready,” Williams said.
The Aggie defense held the T-Birds to a 26.4 percent shooting performance from the field and 27.8 percent from the 3-point line on the night. Thunderbird senior guard Davis Baker only managed 10 points against the Aggies and was the lone T-Bird to score in double digits.
After a series of events, and BYU head coach Dave Rose refusing to play at the Spectrum, last year’s matchup was held in Salt Lake City to provide a neutral court for both teams. The Aggies kept things close in the first few minutes of the first half, but the Cougars used 7-of-15 3-point shooting to push their lead to 10 with 3:46 remaining in the opening period.
BYU shot 50 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. The Ags shot 44 percent from the field and only managed 28.6 percent from the 3-point line, but used a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to three and found themselves down 38-35 at half.
The two team traded baskets to begin the second half, but Cougar junior forward Jonthan Tavernari hit a 3-point shot to put BYU up for good. Tavernari finished the night with 24 points and four steals.
An in-state rivalry game always brings a great deal of hype, but most of the Aggie team – especially players from Utah – have been looking forward to this game for a long time.
“I’m sure everyone will be ready for the BYU game, especially our Utah guys that really know what the rivalry means,” Williams said. “They’ve been telling me about it ever since I’ve been here, so I don’t like BYU at all either.”
Even though there is a great deal of hype surrounding this game, Aggie head coach Stew Morrill is trying to not let his team get over-hyped for this matchup.
“We’re are trying to protect home court and trying to win a game. We’re not looking down the road at this point,” Morrill said.
Senior guard Jared Quayle will have his hands full with BYU’s Mountain West Conference preseason Player of the Year, senior guard Jimmer Fredette. Fredette is averaging more than 20 points and six assists through five games.
“Fredette is a confident player that has the skills to back up his confidence,” Morrill said. “Every year he gets better. He’s a really good player.”
The Cougars are a very deep team this season. They have two freshmen in guard Tyler Haws and forward Brandon Davies who have provided instant offense off the bench.
“BYU is as deep as I’ve ever seen them,” Morrill said. “Both of their freshmen Tyler Haws and Brandon Davies are premier players in Utah.”
Tip off is set for tonight at 7:05 p.m. in the Spectrum.
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu