Nov. 24, 2010

Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - Career highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds from junior forward Brady Jardine paved the way for Utah State as the Aggies beat in-state rival Utah, 79-62, Wednesday night in a hard-fought men's basketball game at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Utah State led from tip-off to final buzzer, improving to 3-1 on the young season, while dealing Utah its first loss of the season in the Utes first road game of the year. Utah is now also 3-1. USU has won eight of the last 13 meetings, including seven in a row at home. Saturday was the 223rd meeting overall between the Aggies and Utes. Utah now holds a 130-93 record, but USU owns a 60-50 advantage at Logan.

The Aggies won their 26th game in the last 33 match-ups with in-state opponents, improving to 33-11 against the state of Utah during the last 11 years, as Utah was USU's fourth-straight in-state opposition in as many games to open the season. Wednesday was USU's 23rd-straight home win against in-state opponents, and the Aggies are now 25-1 at home against Beehive State opponents under head coach Stew Morrill.

Jardine's double-double was not only his second of his career, but both have come in the last three games after he logged 10 points and a previous career-high 12 rebounds at BYU on Nov. 17. The junior forward also logged a career-high 31 minutes of action Wednesday.

Joining Jardine in the double-digit scoring outing was senior forward Tai Wesley with a game-high 21 points, while registering a season-high 36 minutes. Wesley also doubled his career three-pointers by hitting two Wednesday night, as he was 2-of-4 for his career entering the game.

Wesley added eight rebounds to help USU to a 45-32 rebounding edge, including 13 on the offensive glass which paved the way for a 15-7 Aggie second-chance points advantage.

Senior guard Pooh Williams added 11 points, while fellow senior backcourt mate Tyler Newbold matched his six points with six assists.

Utah was led by Will Clyburn's 16 points, while Josh Watkins netted 15 points and Shawn Glover added 13 points, along with his seven rebounds, tying for team-high honors with Jay Watkins.

USU shot 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from the floor in the second half, pulling away from a 35-26 halftime lead. The Aggies finished the night 22-of-53 (41.5 percent). The Aggies equalled their second-half field goal shooting percentage with their three-point percentage in the second-half by hitting 4-of-8 after making just 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) in the first 20 minutes. Wesley's pair of treys were joined by two three-pointers from senior guard Brian Green, while Williams added one, as USU was 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) for the night.

Utah was 25-of-66 (37.9 percent) field goal shooting, hitting 4-of-19 (21.1 percent) behind the arc.

The Aggies tripled the Utes in free throw attempts, as USU was 30-of-39 (76.9 percent) at the free throw line, while UU was 8-of-13 (61.5 percent. Utah State's free pitch line totals were the most free throws made and attempted since Jan. 3, 2008 when the Aggies were 31-of-41 (75.6 percent) vs. Hawai'i.

A Jardine jump hook preceded Wesley's first three-pointer on back-to-back USU possessions to put the Aggies ahead, 22-11 with 8:42 on the first half clock to give Utah State its first double-digit lead of the night. After Utah pulled within 28-21 on a three-point play by Clyburn, Jardine hit two free throws to start an Aggie spurt that Newbold finished with a three-point play of his own to a 33-21 USU lead at the 3:11 mark. Senior forward Nate Bendall made his regular-season debut and hit a layup with 1:45 left to put USU ahead, 35-23. Neither team scored until Josh Watkins hit a three-pointer from the left corner in the final seconds of the half to send the teams into intermission with a 35-26 Utah State lead.

The Utes whittled the deficit down to 37-36 on a 10-2 run, as Clyburn tallied six of the points, including a three-pointer from the left wing with 17:36 on the clock. After a pair of Jardine free throws was matched by a Josh Watkins layup, USU pulled away with an 11-2 streak to regain the double-digit lead and Utah didn't threaten again. UU got within six at 59-53, but two Newbold charity stripe shots, a Jardine putback and a trey by Green regained control for USU and the Aggies coasted to the win.

Utah State continues its holiday weekend hosting Northeastern on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

To purchase tickets, or for more Aggie basketball ticket information, fans can contact the USU Ticket Office at 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305, in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or on-line 24 hours a day at www.utahstateaggies.com under the "tickets" drop down menu.