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The Aggies beat Adams State 73-63 in a game marred by rust and inexperience.
Utah State turned the ball over 17 times, 12 of which were steals by the Grizzlies.
“I think that was the immaturity of our team,” senior forward Brady Jardine said. “We had some stupid turnovers.”
The Aggies struggled to get a rythym going in the first half, and the Grizzlies fought to a 29-point tie at halftime.
“They pressured the heck out of us,” USU head coach Stew Morrill said. “We didn’t handle it real well in the first half.”
Utah State didn’t shoot very well, going 13 of 32 at the half and finishing with 45 percent.
Rebounds were the only stat keeping Utah State in the game after a sloppy first half, eventually outrebounding Adams State 43-32, including a six-board advantage on the offensive end.
Morrill said the Aggies are unsettled at so many spots.
"It’s not a case of guys not trying,” he said. “It’s just where we’re at right now. The fans would like us to be further, we’d like to be further, but we’re not.”
Part of USU's woes are from so many new faces coming in. Senior point guard Brockeith Pane is the lone returning starter. Backup point guard EJ Farris and Jardine are the only other players who saw significant playing time last season off the bench, and Farris’s time was split with former Aggie James Walker III. Redshirt sophomore guard Preston Medlin and senior forward Morgan Grim are the only others who have seen game time.
None of the Aggies hit a 3-pointer in the game, and freshman Adam Thoseby went 0 for 4 from beyond the arc.
Of the newcomers, Stoneridge College transfer Steve Thornton was most impressive. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard had six points, nine rebounds and three steals.
“We seemed a little timid in the first half,” Thornton said. “I’m not upset at all. It’s learning. We’ve got to learn to play like we did in the second half the whole game.”
Jardine said the exhibition was just what Utah State needed.
“That was good for us,” the 6-foot-7 Twin Falls, Idaho, native said. “That was exactly what we needed to see where we’re at. It’ll be good to go watch film.”
Morrill said the team has a lot of work to do before it starts playing at a high level of basketball.
“I’m concerned about everything. We’ve got a lot of new faces,” he said. “We’re 16 practices in. We’ll be fine.”
Tavin Stucki is a sophomore journalism student at Utah State University. He is the sports editor and football beat writer for the Utah Statesman, the Aggie campus newspaper. Twitter: @tavinstucki
