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LOGAN â Utah State could have made a few more 3s. Or shot a little better from the free-throw line. But anything negative said about the Aggies on Monday is simply splitting hairs.
USU was nearly flawless in a convincing 107-62 conference-opening win over San Jose State at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Justin Bean led the Aggies with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Brock Miller added 14 points on 4-of-7 3-point shooting.
It was a blowout from the very beginning. USU (4-3; 1-0) used a 19-6 run in the first half to gain initial separation and the lead just kept ballooning from there.
The Aggies were up 21 at halftime and opened the second half on a 19-0 run to push the lead to 40. Utah State led by as many as 49 (couldn't get it to 50⊠slackers).
"We came out of the locker room in the second half with 10 straight stops and were able to put a little run together," USU head coach Craig Smith said. "Some really good performances all the way up and down the lineup. I'm not sure I can say that one guy was bad in any aspect. It's exciting to see. It's a great way to start the conference season."
Neemias Queta had 8 points (on just three shot attempts) and anchored an Aggie defense that the Spartans could never figure out. San Jose State shot just 33% from the field and USU won the rebounding battle 59-36.
"We got outrebounded tonight. We didn't make our free throws. I thought Utah State played a lot more physical than we did, and we couldn't answer the call on that," San José State coach Jean Prioleau said. "The toughness and the effort showed up in the offensive rebounds in the first half. That's basically where the game got away from us. They beat us pretty good in both halves."
Utah State shot 52% from the field, including a scorching hot 57% performance in the second half as the Aggies ran the Spartans out of Logan. Well, at least back to their hotel.
The Aggies and Spartans will rematch on Wednesday.
"Now we have to turn around and bounce back quickly to play again on Wednesday against the same opponent. It's going to be different for everybody," Smith said.
