BYU, Utah State both inch down in AP Top 25 after split week

SALT LAKE CITY — Welcome to a new world order, BYU, where a 7-point road loss in conference play has a marginal effect on the season.

Ditto for Utah State, too.

The Cougars (14-4, 2-3 Big 12) dropped just one spot in the latest edition of the Associated Press Top 25, coming in at No. 21 following Saturday's 85-78 loss to Texas Tech.

For the Aggies (17-2, 15-1 MW), their first loss in Mountain West play of the year — 99-86 on the road to New Mexico — resulted in the Lobos moving into the poll at No. 25, and just a two spot decline to No. 18.

Utah also moved up the poll after snapping a 11-game losing streak to Oregon, nabbing 20 points to rank eighth among the "others receiving votes" outside the poll.

Utah State bounced back with an 83-62 rout of Fresno State, while BYU also routed now-No. 23 Iowa State 87-72 at home.

In short, the totality of the week's performances played in impact in voting standards. The Cougars are also ranked 19th in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, one spot ahead of the Aggies, who got another double-double in 20 points and 12 rebounds from Great Osobor and 14 points and a career-high six assists from Ian Martinez against the Bulldogs.

"This was a gut-check game for our guys," Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle said after the win. "I was concerned because I know how good Fresno State is. I know how tough and physical they play. We got out-toughed and out-physicaled at New Mexico. I'm not shy to say that. Our guys really answered the bell today. ... We challenged them the last two days.

"I don't mind losing, but how we lost, that bothers me. We got out-toughed and out-physicaled, and these guys answered the bell. I'm proud of them."

BYU took a 48-32 halftime lead Saturday evening at United Supermarkets Arena before Pop Isaacs scored 23 of his career-high 32 points after the break and Texas Tech scored 22 points off 12 turnovers in an 85-78 win that vaulted the Red Raiders up five spots to No. 20.

That helped Texas Tech bounce back from a 77-54 loss at No. 4 Houston.

"That's a really good team, and they are going to cause a lot of people problems," Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said of BYU, which ranks No. 10 in KenPom and No. 5 in the NET. "We have a lot of respect for BYU, and I have a lot of respect for coach (Mark) Pope; he's super gracious. That's a team that is not fun to play against when they are humming."

Reigning national champion UConn (17-2) is No. 1 for the second-straight week, receiving 44 of 61 first-place votes. Purdue (17-2) received the other 17 first-place votes for No. 2, followed by North Carolina (15-3), Houston (16-2) and Tennessee (14-4).

Last week was the Huskies' first top ranking in 15 years, according to the Associated Press.

The Big 12 continues to lead the country with seven ranked teams, despite Kansas State falling from the AP Top 25. The Big East, SEC, Big Ten and Mountain West have three ranked teams apiece, while the ACC and American each have two.

BYU hosts Houston — the top-rated team in the NET — at 7 p.m. MST Tuesday before Saturday's home tilt with Texas. Utah State travels to the Treasure Valley to face Boise State at 2 p.m. MST Saturday.

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