The Utes Prevail Over the Aggies in a Close One, 68-67

Stew Morrill Postgame

Tai Wesley Postgame

Jared Quayle Postgame

The last time Utah State played Utah in Salt Lake City, the Utes punished the Aggies by double digits. The game wasn't even close. Last year in Logan, USU beat the Utes on a last-second Tai Wesley bank shot off the glass. The play had to be reviewed, but the points were confirmed and the Aggies came away with the victory. This year, the Aggies looked to stretch the win streak against the Utes to two, and for 28 minutes, it looked like the Ags would pull it off. The Aggies had a seven point lead about eight minutes into the second half, forcing Boylen to take a time out.

USU then went about 5 minutes without scoring, and Utah put up 11 straight. Utah State took a one or two point lead a couple times during the last twelve minutes, but Utah was able to make the shots when it counted.

Stew was not pleased at all with his team's effort after the game, and I don't blame him. The Ags gave the ball away way too many times. USU finished with 17 turnovers and shot under the 49% hallmark shooting percentage. The Aggies did play very good defense. Indeed, the defense was what kept the Ags in the game for the most part. When the game came right down to it, however, USU couldn't make the shot when it counted, and that's why the Utes came away from the win.

Jared Quayle played like a mad man in the second half. Quayle was the reason the team even was relevant. He went 5-7 from 3-point land in the game, scored 27 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. When Quayle took a rest for because of foul troubles, USU didn't manage to score. Bendall and Wesley played decently, but Quayle was the real shining star from the Aggie Side.

On the other side of the ball, the real standout was Carlon Brown. He was Utah's leading scorer and gave USU plenty of troubling looks defensively.

The 2-guard spot was an absolute black hole for the Ags in SLC. Tyler Newbold went 0-5 from 3-point land, including a wide open three that would have tied the game with nine seconds left. He scored his first bucket of the game in the final minute, and it was a lay-up. Stew mentioned in his interview that he knew Tyler didn't play well. He'll bounce back.

USU now hits the road for Boston and Northwestern. The Aggies will face off in the Eastern Time Zone against a very imposing foe. If USU plays like it did tonight, we'll be looking at a 1-2 Aggie team next week when it returns home.

And since this is also a personal blog, I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate HATE the U. They make my entire existence miserable.