Dec. 16, 2003

LOGAN, Utah - Men's basketball player Cardell Butler was named the Utah State Athlete of the Week it was announced on Dec. 15. The weekly award is voted on by a state media panel.

Butler, a 6-4 senior, scored a career-high 27 points to lead Utah State to a 73-62 road win at Idaho State on Dec. 13. Butler shot 10-15 (.667) from the field, 3-6 (.500) from the three-point line and 4-4 (1.000) from the free-throw line in the game. Along with his career-high 27 points, Butler also played a season-high 32 minutes in the game. Those 27 points are the most scored by an Aggie since Desmond Penigar had 29 against Weber State on Dec. 21, 2002.

For the year Butler leads the Aggies in scoring at 13.0 points per game and is tied for first with Mark Brown for the team lead in steals, recording seven. He has hit 52 percent of his field goal attempts as well as 12 of 14 free throw attempts through five games.

The Aggies will host Jackson State on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

Nominees From Other Sports Included:

Women's Basketball - Ali Aird...Sophomore Center Ali Aird scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down seven rebounds in USU's 73-70 overtime loss to Northern Colorado on Dec. 13. Aird shot 8-13 (.615) from the field and 10-11 (.909) from the free-throw line in the game. In USU's last four games, Aird has averaged 16.25 points and 5.75 rebounds per game.

Previous WinnersSept. 1 - Zuzana Cernianska, VolleyballSept. 8 - Chris Cooley, FootballSept. 15 - Ally Clegg, SoccerSept. 22 - Erin Cartwright-Davis, VolleyballSept. 29 - Nicole Feuz, SoccerOct. 6  - Amber Tracy, SoccerOct. 13 - Charlsie Harris, SoccerOct. 20 - Erin Cartwright-Davis, VolleyballOct. 27 - Travis Cox, FootballNov. 3 - Travis Cox, FootballNov. 10 - Chris Cooley, FootballNov. 17 - Mike Nielson, Cross CountryNov. 24 - Zuzana Cernianska, VolleyballDec. 1 - Mark Brown, BasketballDec. 8 - Ali Aird, Women's BasketballDec. 15 - Cardell Butler, Men's Basketball