WEB EXTRA: USU tops Idaho 71-57

UTAH STATE Aggies vs. UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Vandals USU 71 UI 57

LOGAN, Utah — Senior point guard Bernard Rock scored 21 points on 7-of-8 field goal shooting to lead Utah State University to a 71-57 win over Big West rival Idaho Saturday night.

Curtis Bobb also scored 13 for the Aggies (18-2, 7-0). Dimitri Jorssen dropped in 12 points — 10 if which came from free throws. Forward Shawn Daniels got a team-high four blocks to aid the cause for USU. As a team, USU was credited with 11 blocks, one short of the school record set earlier this season. Idaho (4-15, 1-7) was led by Matt Gerschefske, with 15 points and Marquis Holmes with 11 rebounds.

A pesky team of Vandals remained in striking distance against the Big West Conference-leading Aggies, until Rock managed a steal and layin to make the score 56-44 with 9:20 left in the game, which seemed to break the back of the visitors.

USU then went into a zone defense that slowed Idaho’s ability to get any shots in the paint and forced several hurried shots as the 24-second clock wound down. Idaho shot 35 percent from the field in the game, only 30 percent the second half.

The win gives USU 26 consecutive wins against conference competition and ties the school’s best-ever start. USU has won the last 19 games at home and has the fourth-longest winning streak in the country (12 games).

USU took a 38-30 halftime lead, due, in part, to a tough inside defense highlighted by four blocks and five steals. Bobb and Tony Brown also dropped in two three-pointers each to pace the Aggies.

The win over Idaho sets up a game for the Aggies next Wednesday with the only other undefeated Big West team, UC-Irvine on the Anteaters’ home court.

IDAHO

Holmes 4-10 1-2 9, Hilaire 2-6 0-0 4, Wise 1-10 2-3 4, Fletcher 0-6 0-0 0, Jenkins 3-3 2-2 9, Miller 1-4 3-4 6, Logan 1-3 0-0 2, Watson 1-1 0-0 3, Collier 2-3 1-2 5, Gerschefske 4-7 4-8 15.

Totals: 19-53 13-21 57.

UTAH STATE

Daniels 4-7 0-2 8, Bobb 3-9 4-4 13, Jorssen 1-1 10-12 12, Rock 7-8 4-6 21, Brown 2-6 0-1 6, Vincent 0-2 0-0 0, Vague 1-4 2-4 4, Ray 1-2 2-3 4, Bailey 1-4 1-2 3, Johnson 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 20-45 23-34 71.

Halftime UI 30 USU 38.

3-point goals — UI 6-18 (Gerschefske 3-6, Jenkins 1-1, Wise 0-3, Fletcher 0-3, Miller 1-3, Logan 0-1, Watson 1-1), USU 8-15 (Brown 2-5, Rock 3-4, Bobb 3-5, Vincent 0-1).

Fouled out — none.

Rebounds- UI 38 (Holmes 11) USU 31 (Bobb 9).

Assists – UI 8 (Fletcher 3) USU 14 (Daniels 4).

Total fouls- UI 22, USU 19.

Technical fouls: none

Attendance: 9,741.