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LAS VEGAS — If nothing else, Julion Pearre’s senior season at Utah State has been a roller coaster.
After struggling with injuries for most of the season, the senior sharpshooter returned to the starting lineup in time for last week’s senior night against UNLV—only his third start of the year.
Pearre, who averaged 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 14 games, made his fourth start count, though.
Pearre scored 14 points, including 12 on 4-of-4 3-point shooting in the first half, to help the Aggies to a 76-65 win over Colorado State in the opening round of the Mountain West tournament Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
“He’s one of the few guys on our team with experience in the tournament,” Utah State’s Dwayne Brown Jr. said of Pearre, who also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal. “It was really big for him to step up, for the senior year he’s had. I’m really proud of him and happy for him.”
The senior who made just 6-of-22 3-pointers all season nearly matched that total in just one half en route to his season-high 14 points and four rebounds.
With his team down by as much as 15 in the first half, Pearre pulled up and unleashed a 3-pointer with 5:40 remaining in the half to pull the Aggies within eight, 27-19.
Four triples later, Utah State and Colorado State were tied at 33 points apiece before the Rams pulled ahead for the 35-33 halftime edge.
But it was enough to let Aggie sharpshooters Koby McEwen and Sam Merrill do the rest.
“We needed that,” said McEwen, who finished with a game-high 25 points and four assists. “A lot of us couldn’t make a basket, and he came in and hit some big threes. He kept us in the game, really. I’m proud of Julion. I’m happy for him.
“We need that really bad.”
Bustin’ for Boise
The Aggies’ move up to seventh place in the Mountain West Conference came with a significant benefit: avoiding the 8-9 first-round game and a potential matchup with league champion Nevada in the quarterfinals.
Instead, Utah State draws second-seeded Boise State—a team the Aggies split during the regular season, including a 71-65 win Feb. 10 in Logan.
“This year in Logan, we flipped the script,” Utah State coach Tim Duryea said. “In past games, we’ve led for most of the game and lost. In Logan, I think Boise led for as much as we did and then we won late. It was probably one of the better games we’ve been involved with all year.
“And it was good to finally beat them.”
The undefeated
Utah State improved to 4-0 all-time in the first round of the Mountain West tournament, having never lost a game since joining the league prior to the 2013-14 season.
The Aggies are 4-4 overall in Mountain West tournament play, including a 3-2 mark under Duryea. Utah State has never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament.
