USU MBB: Ashworth propels Aggies past Oral Roberts
LOGAN — Utah State Men’s Basketball defeated Oral Roberts 95-85 to continue its perfect season and improve to 5-0 on the year.
Guard Steven Ashworth was electric for the Aggies, pouring in a career-high 30 points off the bench in 26 minutes where he connected on eight three-pointers only missing one.
“It just kind of happened,” Ashworth said. “We were talking during a timeout about our execution and getting things tight. We made a great play and we made extra passes and I was open and I hit it.”
That play came in the most crucial point of the game. The Aggies and Golden Eagles were tied at 77-77 with 2:34 left in the game. From then on, it was all Ashworth. He would go on a 10-0 self-sustained run across a 1:19 minute span with three 3-pointers and a free throw off of a flop technical foul.
“It’s a show every time he’s out there,” guard Max Shulga said. “He’s like Steph Curry for real.”
Not only did it put the Aggies up 10 points with one minute to play, but it was also the dagger for the Aggies who pieced free throws together — including two by Ashworth to get him to 30 points — to get them the win.
Ashworth, who went down with an ankle injury just eight days ago, hit the game-winner at San Diego on Thursday and had a career night tonight.
“Thanks to modern medicine, faith in God and the blessing of a trainer like Leah the ankle is feeling great,” Ashworth said. “Very thankful to continue playing because when I first injured it I did not think I would be in this situation.”
In addition to Ashworth’s heroics, other Aggies had great games as well. Forward Taylor Funk provided 18 points off of 6-8 shooting from deep to go along with five boards and four assists.
Guard Max Shulga had his first career double-double and a career-high in rebounds and assists. Shulga finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a team-high 35 minutes of play.
“I don’t really keep up with stats when I’m playing,” Shulga said. “I just try to win, we got the win so that’s all that matters.”
Oral Roberts was projected to win their conference among voters in the Summit League. The Golden Eagles were made famous with their Cinderella run in March Madness two years ago where they defeated Ohio State and Florida before falling to Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
“Oral Roberts is a dynamite team,” head coach Ryan Odom said. “They are never out of a game and they fight. They have some great shooters and are very unique.”
The Aggies, as a team, shot 51.8% (29-56) from the field and 61% (19-31) from deep in the 95-point scoring effort. The 19 threes are the second most in program history, behind 20 three-point field goals made during a 2006 game at New Mexico State.
Utah State has a short break as they get Thanksgiving off to recover from a sickness that is going around the team, according to Odom. The Aggies will come back from the holiday to face Utah Tech in Logan on Dec. 1 then they will travel to San Francisco to take on the Dons on Dec. 4.
Featured image by Elise Gottling from the UVU game.