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FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Tai Wesley and Nate Bendall scored 12 points each as Utah State smothered Fresno State 52-39 on Saturday night for the Aggies' 11th straight victory.
Brockeith Pane added eight points for Utah State (16-2, 5-0), which won its 19th straight Western Athletic Conference game. Bendall also grabbed 16 rebounds.
Greg Smith had 10 points and nine rebounds for Fresno State (7-8, 3-2). The Bulldogs' points total was a season low and matched their output from a 76-39 loss on March 1, 2010, to the Aggies in Logan, Utah.
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Utah State shot 43.8 percent from the field compared to Fresno State's 27.3 percent, and outscored the Bulldogs 26-16 in the paint.
The Bulldogs made just 47.8 percent of their free throws, including a 4-of-11 effort from Smith.
Utah State led by double digits throughout the second half as the Bulldogs missed several layups and other close-range shots.
Fresno State got within 34-25 on Garrett Johnson's 3-pointer with 12:50 remaining, but Tyler Newbold answered with a layup and Brian Green followed with a 3 to put the Aggies ahead by 14.
Wesley's layup with 8:52 left gave Utah State its largest lead of the game at 43-28.
The Bulldogs have dropped two straight since winning their first three WAC games, and have lost eight straight games to the Aggies, who are seeking their fourth consecutive conference title.
Pane hit a 3-pointer off the dribble from the top of the key with 30 seconds left in the first half, putting Utah State ahead 26-15.
After Smith made a layup on the Bulldogs' opening possession, Pooh Williams answered with a 3-pointer and the Aggies led the rest of the way.
Kevin Olekaibe scored eight points for Fresno State.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)ess. All Rights Reserved.)
