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LOGAN -- The Aggies (1-2) return to the Spectrum Tuesday night to start a five-game home stand against the Idaho State Bengals (1-3) from the Big Sky Conference.
The Aggies dropped another close one on the road Saturday morning to the Northeastern Huskies, 64-61.
Junior forward Nate Bendall was perfect from the floor and finished the night with 15 points, one block, and two steals. Junior guard Tyler Newbold bounced back from his dismal performance against the Utes Wednesday night finishing with 10 points and two assists. Junior forward Pooh Williams played in his first game after foot surgery and was scoreless in nine minutes of play off the bench.
The Aggies shot better than the Huskies from the field and from the free-throw line, but Northeastern's bench came up big and outscored the Aggie bench 17-11. Huskies senior guard Baptiste Bataille led all scorers off the bench with 12 points. Huskies senior guard Matt Janning led the way for Northeastern with 14 points and finished the night with two assists and one steal.
I felt like I lost it for my team. I had the turnover at the end. I should have went and scored it.
–USU Forward Tai Wesley
The Aggies led by as much as 11 points in the second half, but the Huskies used a 14-2 run capped by a Manny Adako jumper. Utah State kept within striking distance for the rest of the game and a 3-point shot from junior forward Brian Green gave the Aggies a one point lead with 2:04 remaining. The Huskies went on a 7-3 run to close-out the game. When the Aggies were down 60-58 junior forward Tai Wesley had a chance at a wide-open layup to tie the game, but the Huskies junior guard Chaisson Allen intercepted Wesley's attempt to get the ball out for an open 3-point shot.
"I felt like I lost it for my team. I had the turnover at the end. I should have went and scored it," Wesley said.
The Idaho State Bengals started their regular season with a three-game road trip as well.
The Bengals were 0-3 to begin the season with losses to Iowa State, Bradley, and Brigham Young University. The Bengals defeated the Colorado Christian University Cougars at home Saturday night, 77-60.
Senior guard Amorrow Morgan led the Bengals with 25 points and senior forward Demetrius Monroe chipped in a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Bengals shot 51 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from the 3-point line. Idaho State never trailed in the game and led by as many as 19 points.
For the season the Bengals are shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 28.6 from the 3-point line. The Bengals have outrebounded their opponents overall and are averaging just over 13 turnovers per game. The Aggies are averaging just over 16 turnovers a game.
The Aggies destroyed the Bengals in their last meeting in the Spectrum back in 2006, 83-46. The Aggies shot a staggering 63.8 percent from the field, 52.8 percent from 3-point land and allowed the Bengals to shoot only 34 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from the field.
Jaycee Carroll led Utah State with 22 points in the game. Five other Aggies also scored double digits and Stephen DuCharme was perfect from the field and finished with 11 points on the night.
The Aggies have defeated the Bengals nine straight games and have not lost since 1981 where the Bengals won 74-70 in the Spectrum.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday from the Spectrum.
