Utah State defeats Utah Valley 65-46 in a slugfest
Utah State men’s basketball defeated Utah Valley University 65-46 in a physical battle Friday night in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to start the season 4-0. The Aggies start the season 4-0 for the third time in the last six seasons with the win over the Wolverines.
Utah State was led in scoring by junior guard Sam Merrill with 14 points while senior forward Quinn Taylor added 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
The USU Aggies brought the heat against The UVU Wolverines n November 16th in the Spectrum at Utah State. With the Hurd and the residents of Logan behind them the Aggies defeated the Wolverines 65-46.
The Aggies shot poorly all game, finishing the game at just 36.2 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from three-point range. Utah State held Utah Valley to just 30.9 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from three-point range.
“There was a stretch they couldn’t throw it in the ocean, point-blank shots. We couldn’t make a point-blank shot,” head coach Craig Smith said. “We missed some wide-open shots that we haven’t been missing.”
The game was point-for-point until about four minutes left in the first half, when the Aggies went on a 12-0 run to end the half. Utah State led at the break 32-20.
Tim Carpenter | The Utah Statesman USU’s Brock Miller shoots a three-pointer against UVU Friday night in the Spectrum. The Aggies won, 65-46. Photo By Tim Carpenter
Smith said the game was a tough test for the team and he thought they played well. Smith noted the game felt like a conference game with the high-energy atmosphere in the building.
“What an unbelievable home court tonight. The Spectrum was rocking,” Smith said. “We’re working hard to get the magic back. It made a difference. There’s no doubt. The energy, the passion, the enthusiasm carries over on the floor.”
Merrill also noted the crowd was a major factor in the Aggies win over Utah Valley.
“Crowd was awesome tonight,” Merrill said. “That was maybe as loud as it’s been since I’ve been here.”
Utah State would outrebound the Wolverines 50-37 with a career-high 15 coming from Taylor. The Aggies would also haul in 17 offensive rebounds in the game.
Taylor said the game was much more physical than he expected, but was glad it turned out that way.
“It’s early in the year so they usually call it a little more ticky-tack,” Taylor said. “It felt like a conference game or a conferment tournament game with the physicality.”
USU’s John Knight III drives against a pair of Wolverines. Photo by Tim Carpenter.
The Aggies were able to hold Utah Valley’s leading scorer, junior guard Jake Toolson, to just four points on the night. Toolson had been averaging 17 points per game on the season.
“Jake Toolson is a really, really good player,” Smith said. “To hold him to four points speaks volumes.”
The Aggies look forward to Monday’s game against Saint Mary’s and Wednesday’s game against Arizona State or Mississippi State in the MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Saint Mary’s is 3-0 on the season with its most recent game coming in a 73-58 win over New Mexico State on Wednesday.