Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOGAN — Utah State men’s basketball entered the 2014-15 season with only one returning starter and one eligible senior on its roster, so it naturally was going to take some time to understand the team.
But in Stew Morrill’s final year as a collegiate head coach, the Aggies have developed into a team that relies heavily on making its mark from beyond the arc.
Utah State (11-7, 3-2 MWC) is shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point range, including an average of 43.9 percent from downtown in its 11 wins. The Aggies are the top-rated 3-point shooting team in the Mountain West Conference and rank No. 26 in the country.
Only two teams have connected on double-digit 3-pointers against the Aggies in 2014-15. Southern California shot 12-of-26 from beyond the arc in Los Angeles on Dec. 7, and Boise State made 10-of-23 treys in Idaho on Jan. 3.
Utah State made multiple threes in all but one game of the season, a 68-65 home loss to South Dakota State on Dec. 20. On the other hand, the Aggies made double-digit 3-pointers in four games, including a season-high 13 treys on 56.5 percent shooting in last week’s 71-59 win over Air Force that saw Utah State lead wire to wire.
In six games this season, Utah State has shot better from 3-point range than 2-point range, including the 70-54 win at Nevada on Tuesday. When one player gets hot from downtown, the feeling is often contagious. As one player gets confidence, the good-luck feel-from-deep often spreads with ease to his teammates.
“We shoot the ball with confidence, we move the ball well, and getting open looks always help,” freshman guard Julion Pearre said.
Sophomore wing Jalen Moore, the lone returning starter from a year ago, averages 16 points and 6.9 rebounds per game — but does a lot of his damage from the outside, shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range. The Sky View High grad went 4-for-4 from 3-point range against the Wolfpack en route to a career-high 22 points.
In the same game in Reno, Nevada, the Aggies held the Wolfpack to only two 3-pointers, and Nevada shot just 2-of-18 from the field.
Since the beginning of Mountain West play, Utah State has banked 53 of its 108 3-point attempts.
In addition to its luck from the 3-point line, the Aggies also defend the 3-ball as the 19th-best team in the country, holding opponents to only 28.6 percent from deep. Utah State rates among the best teams in ball security, allowing only 10.4 turnovers per game — the 13th-fewest in the NCAA and 15th-fewest in total turnovers allowed (176).
Utah State returns to Mountain West action Saturday at UNLV for a 6 p.m. MT tipoff. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
