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LOGAN — To call Abel Porter’s 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds that silenced the New Mexico crowd in a 68-66 win last Saturday night in The Pit the biggest shot of his Utah State career wouldn’t necessarily be an understatement.
The shot kept Utah State unbeaten in four-straight, and five of the past six, while also helping the Aggies (15-5) hold on to a share of second place in the Mountain West Conference with a record of 5-2 in league play.
Utah State, along with Fresno State and UNLV, is just one game behind No. 8 Nevada as the Aggies prepare to welcome San Jose State to the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum at 7 p.m. MST Wednesday.
But that shot?
Well, it probably wasn’t the biggest thing to happen to Porter last week.
The former Davis High standout is in his second season of playing at Utah State after serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia. But up until last week, he was paying his own way.
Porter was a walk-on, and while averaging 1.1 points and 0.7 rebounds per game for the Aggies, he was also paying his own tuition and trying to keep his head above water in the business program.
So last Thursday, Utah State coach Craig Smith rewarded Porter with a bigger prize — a full-ride athletic scholarship.
"He's paid his dues," Aggies coach Craig Smith told the Associated Press after the game. "And he just got a scholarship this week. Isn't that crazy? So it's been a big week for Able Porter."
Porter rewarded his coach with the game-winner in the final seconds against the Lobos (9-11, 3-5 Mountain West) and gave the Aggies their fifth road win of the season after totaling just five road games in the past two years combined.
It’s no wonder the Aggie bench was so stoked for Porter. Not only was it a game-winner, but it couldn’t happen to a better individual.
“Crew (Ainge) and TK (Tauriawn Knight) had probably the most spirited, fired-up reaction,” Smith said. “That was really cool to see.
“Every single guy had that reaction. That is probably what is the most underrated part about the whole play. Certainly, the shot gets the coverage, but players make plays.”
The Aggies will host the Spartans (3-16, 0-7 MW) just two weeks after an 81-63 win in San Jose on Jan. 9. Diogo Brito led the way that night with 23 points and six assists, and Neemia Queta added 14 points and nine rebounds on an off-night for leading scorer Sam Merrill and role players like Porter.
“It feels like we just played them because we did two weeks ago,” Smith said. “They are a big, long, athletic team. They are an excellent rebounding team. They play a lot of different guys.
“They’ve played three games since we’ve played them, and we’ve played two. So not a lot of things have changed in terms of preparation and walk-through.”
