USU dominates Nevada, picks up second straight win
RENO – Utah State has now notched their second win in a row to climb to 3-5 in conference play since starting just 1-5. After a monumental win over the San Diego State Aztecs Wednesday night, the Aggies followed through Saturday in Reno dismantling the Nevada Wolf Pack 78-49.
The Aggie’s offensive gauntlet and relentless defense powered them to their easiest win in conference play this year. Utah State shot 50% from the floor for the game and 37% from three while holding Nevada to just 31% and 13%, respectively.
The Aggies ended the game with six players scoring double digits and numerous great performances, but none better than guard Steven Ashworth. Ashworth, who has been starting while Rylan Jones is out on concussion protocol, had 11 points while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out a team-leading seven assists.
“He’s been great for us. A lot of things he does is stuff you won’t even see on the stat sheet,” guard RJ Eytle-Rock says on Ashworth. “He’s been a great leader for us. He’s continuously talking, bringing the group together, sharing the ball, and he’s shooting big right now.”
The Aggies got out to a quick start in the first half, shooting 56% from the field and 39% from three to take a 45-27 lead into halftime. Coming out of the break the Aggies picked up right where they left off and went on a 16-4 run to open a 30-point lead.
The game would not get much closer from there and Utah State cruised to their second straight win.
Aggie scorers with over ten points included Eytle-Rock, Ashworth, Justin Bean, Brandon Horvath, Max Shulga, and Sean Bairstow. Along with the widespread contribution, the Aggies totaled 22 assists on the night, their most since starting conference play.
In the six games before San Diego State, the Aggies averaged just 11 assists per game. In their two wins this week they are averaging 21 assists and a victory margin of 23 points.
Utah State’s defense also came up big in the win over Nevada, holding the Wolf Pack to just 49 points on just 31% shooting. They also held Nevada’s leading scorer Grant Sherfield, averaging over 19 points per game, to just four points on the night.
“A huge key for us going into tonight,” head coach Ryan Odom said on containing Sherfield. “If you don’t set your defense against a player like Sherfield you’re going to have problems all night.”
Utah State, after starting conference play 1-5, now has two back-to-back double-digit wins and is starting to gain confidence and play with more team rhythm. This could be the start of a hot streak for the Aggies, but coach Odom is still taking it one game at a time.
“We certainly don’t have a feeling like our teams arrived by any stretch. We’re three and five now. We’ve got work to do. We’re just trying to play the best basketball, the most competitive basketball that we can play,” he said.
Utah State will come back to Logan and prepare for three home games in five days against Air Force, San Jose State and UNLV.