USU runs by Hawaii, wins WAC championship

LOGAN, UTAH — Gary Wilkinson scored 27 points to lead four Aggies in double figures as Utah State ran past Hawaii 82-62 Thursday night.
    Tai Wesley scored 16 for the Aggies (26-3, 13-1 Western Athletic Conference), while Tyler Newbold scored 12 and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Jared Quayle added 10.
    Hiram Thompson scored a career-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting for the Rainbow Warriors (13-14, 5-9 WAC). Bill Amis scored 12 and Roderick Fleming 10.
    USU put together a 13-0 run midway through the second half, a stretch of four minutes in which Hawaii did not score but turned the ball over three times, all leading to scores by the Aggies.  USU outrebounded Hawaii 36-25 and the Warriors had 16 turnovers  in the game.
    The teams traded baskets to start the game until the Aggies put together an 8-0 run to stretch the lead to 31-17 with 5:30 to play. USU was able to gain eight offensive rebounds, most of which were putback  baskets, while the Rainbow Warriors grabbed only two.
    Both teams shot 54 percent in the first half, with USU taking a 41-28 halftime lead.
    The win gave USU the WAC conference championship with two conference games remaining.