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LOGAN — In a clash that tested Utah State's resilience, the Aggies secured a 76-71 victory over UNLV on Wednesday night at the Spectrum.
With the win, Utah State improved to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in Mountain West play and remains one of the top teams in the country by win percentage.
The Aggies entered the matchup seeking redemption after their lone conference loss to the Rebels earlier this season. UNLV came in looking to sweep the season series but fell just short in a game defined by Utah State's defensive intensity and bench contributions.
"I thought UNLV was really good again. Two crazy games against them, and we went right down to the wire again," said Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun. "We just made a few more plays than them. I thought our point guards, Deyton (Albury) and Drake (Allen), really stepped up. We just didn't have it tonight, we didn't play great basketball, but to get out of here with a win was really important."
Both teams started the game cautiously, struggling to find a rhythm in the early minutes. Utah State grabbed a 5-2 lead after an Ian Martinez 3-pointer.
The Aggies then went on an 11-5 run, fueled by perimeter shooting from Allen and Jordy Barnes, extending the home team's advantage. Utah State's bench proved to be a difference-maker throughout the night, though, outscoring UNLV's reserves 17-0 in the first 15 minutes alone.
Albury was particularly effective, providing energy on both ends of the floor while finishing strong at the rim. His two layups late in the half helped the Aggies build a 27-13 lead with just under five minutes remaining.
Senior guard Dexter Akanno also played a key role, leading the team with 8 points at the break.
UNLV managed to claw its way back slightly, capitalizing on a brief scoring drought from Utah State, but the Aggies still carried a comfortable 35-24 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, both teams struggled to generate offense, with Utah State maintaining a steady lead. The Spectrum crowd came alive when Allen drove past his defender and threw down a thunderous right-handed slam, putting the Aggies up 43-34 with 14:29 to play.
UNLV responded with a quick 7-0 run, closing the gap to just 3 points as Utah State's defense showed signs of fatigue.
"I would say their playing style, first of all," Albury said when asked why UNLV has been such a tough matchup for Utah State. "They're very physical on the defensive end. Also, most of the game they play four guards that drive and attack the rim, creating open shots for their shooters, so it's up to us to guard and be more physical than them."
The Rebels continued to attack the paint, and with six minutes to play, UNLV cut the deficit to just two points, setting up a tense finish. Mason Falslev provided a timely response for Utah State, knocking down his first three-pointer of the night to extend the lead to 60-56.
Moments later, Albury sank another clutch three from the wing off a feed from Falslev, giving the Aggies an eight-point cushion and forcing a UNLV timeout. The Queens University transfer finished with 16 points, proving to be the game-changer.
"Basketball is a game of runs. We're going to have our runs, they're going to have their runs," Albury said. "I feel like the tougher teams end up taking the outcome. It's just staying composed and sticking with the game plan that coach prepared for us, offensively and defensively."
Defensively, Utah State locked in when it mattered most, holding the Rebels without a field goal for nearly five minutes in the closing moments. A tap-in from Jaden Henley cut the Aggie lead to seven with just over a minute remaining, but UNLV could not complete the comeback as missed free throws and costly turnovers sealed their fate.
"I told our team I'm proud of them, that's a tough place to win," UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger said. "That is an unbelievable venue, they had 9,740 and probably 7,000 students. It was unreal, for the guys to battle from 16 down when it would have been very easy to give up and lay down, but they just continued to fight."
With the win, Utah State continues to establish itself as a force in the Mountain West.
The Aggies will look to keep their momentum rolling as they push toward postseason play, while UNLV will aim to regroup after a hard-fought battle on the road.
