Complete Release

Storylines

• Utah State men's basketball returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Arena (10,240) and hosts Santa Clara on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. in the first nationally televised game of the season.

• The game can be found live on ROOT Sports (Comcast Ch. 52/693HD, Dish Network Ch. 414, DirecTV Ch. 683/687).

• The game will mark the ninth meeting between the two schools with Utah State holding the 5-3 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met in the 2012-13 season where the Aggies came away with an 80-78 overtime victory in Santa Clara.

• Two of the last three games against Santa Clara have gone into overtime.

• Utah State beat Santa Clara for the first time on the road in that 2012-13 meeting, but have won back-to-back home games against the Broncos in 1974 and 2007.

• Utah State is 172-181 all-time against the West Coast Conference with most of those games coming against BYU (92-138) and Pacific (44-24), an in-state rival and the other a former conference foe in the Big West.

• Utah State has an overall record of 1,520-1,046 (.592) in its 2,566 games played.

• Utah State is 2-0 to start the season, marking the eighth time that head coach Stew Morrill has led his charges to back-to-back wins to begin the season in his 17 years with the program.

• Utah State will look to start the year 3-0 for the second consecutive year, after opening the 2013-14 season on a 5-0 run.

• Utah State will enter its second season in the Mountain West, compiling a 7-11 conference mark last season in the Aggies debut. The seven wins were the most among the five newest teams to the conference, surpassing Boise State's three wins in 2011-12, Fresno State's five wins and Nevada's three wins in 2012-13 and San José State's one win in 2013-14.

• Utah State finished in the top 20 in several national statistics last season, including 3-point field goal percentage (.406, 2nd), assists per game (15.9, 12th) and rebounding margin (5.8, 18th).

• Utah State is one of the least experienced teams in the nation with only four returning players from 2013-14 on the roster. The rest of the squad is made up of two returning redshirts from the 2011-12 season and a mixture of 11 junior transfers and freshmen.

This Week

Utah State men's basketball (2-0, 0-0 MW) returns to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Arena (10,240) and hosts Santa Clara (2-0, 0-0 WCC) on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. in the first nationally televised game of the season. The game can be found live on ROOT Sports (Comcast Ch. 52/693HD, Dish Network Ch. 414, DirecTV Ch. 683/687). Fans can also listen to the game via the Aggie Sports Network.

Coming Up

Utah State will be back on the road next weekend, playing at Mississippi State (2-0, 0-0 SEC) in Starkville on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. (MT). There is no television for the game, but it will be stream via the SEC Digital Network. Fans can also listen to the game via the Aggie Sports Network with Scott Garrard on the call.

On the Airwaves

Utah State basketball games are broadcast on the Aggie Sports Network on KVNU (610 AM/102.1 FM) and KLZX (95.9 FM) in Logan, on KZNS (1280 AM) in Salt Lake City, KVEL (920 AM) in Vernal, KRPX (95.3 FM) in Price and KLZX (105.3 FM) in Montpelier, Idaho as well as on the Internet at www.utahstateaggies.com. Al Lewis serves as the play-by-play announcer while former USU head coach and athletics director Rod Tueller serves as the analyst during home games and select road games.

Listen Live on the Internet

Fans can also listen to all Utah State men's basketball games on the Internet by clicking on the "Listen Live" link at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official website of USU athletics.

On TV

The game can be found live on ROOT Sports (Comcast Ch. 52/693HD, Dish Network Ch. 414, DirecTV Ch. 683/687).

Live Video on the Internet

Select Utah State home games and road games, where available, are streamed on the Internet by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics.

Live Stats

Live stats for all USU home games are available via "GameTracker" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU Athletics. Road games will be under "live stats" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, which will redirect fans to the home team's stat system.

Social Media

Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on twitter @Aggiehoops. Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube at youtube.com/UtahStateAthletics. Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter @USUAthletics, on facebook at facebook.com/USUAthletics, or on Instagram @USUAthletics.

Looking at Utah State

Utah State has opened the 2014-15 season with back-to-back victories, coming from behind in both games to post wins over Weber State (72-61) and Illinois State (60-55). USU was down 18 at the half to the Wildcats and down seven on the road at ISU before coming back at winning both games.

Redshirt freshman forward David Collette has paced the team in scoring this season, tallying double-digit numbers with a freshman-debut record 22 points against Weber State and 17 points against Illinois State. The Murray High School product has also been efficient in his scoring, shooting 72.0 percent (18-of-25). Collete also leads the team in blocks (five) and steals (five) this season.

He is followed in the scoring column by sophomore wing Jalen Moore with 14.0 points per game and a team-best 8.5 rebounds per contest after collecting career highs in back-to-back outings. Junior guard Darius Perkins is the final Aggie averaging in double figures, putting in 10.5 points per game while leading the team with 11 assists over the first two games of the season.

Utah State has shot 44.9 percent (48-of-107) from the floor this season, including a 31.4 percent (11-of-35) clip from behind the 3-point line. The Aggies have had their troubles at the free throw line, shooting 58.1 percent (25-of-43) from the charity strip. Rebounding has been another cause for concern as the Aggies have been out rebounded 41.5 to 36.0 per game this season.

Scouting Santa Clara

Santa Clara will enter the game on Wednesday night with a 2-0 record after starting the season with wins over CS Fullerton (89-72) and San Diego Christian (70-58). The Broncos finished the 2013-14 season with an overall mark of 14-19, including a 6-12 ledger in the West Coast Conference and entered this season picked tied for seventh in the preseason poll of ten teams.

Senior guard Brandon Clark averaged 26.0 points per game over the opening contests for SCU en route to being named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week. Clark also led the team over the two-game stretch with 12 assists and was third on the team with 4.5 rebounds per game.

He was followed in scoring by sophomore guard Jared Brownridge with 12.5 points per game and senior guard Denzel Johnson with 11.5 points per game. As a team, Santa Clara averaged 79.5 points per game, shooting 51.9 percent (55-of-106) and held the opposition to 65.0 points and 38.1 percent (45-of-118) from the floor.

SCU, like the Aggies, have been out rebounded 37.5 to 34.0 per game over the first two contest. The Broncos have been accurate from long range, connecting on 53.1 percent (17-of-32) of their 3-point tries.

Head coach Kerry Keating is in his eighth season in Santa Clara, guiding the Broncos to an overall mark of 118-121 over that span. Keating has lost both games against Utah State in which he has coached.

Preseason Poll

Utah State men's basketball team has been selected 10th in the 2014-15 Mountain West Preseason Media Poll.

Defending 2013-14 champion San Diego State was a near unanimous pick to win the conference after garnering 34 of 35 first-place votes and 383 points. Boise State followed with one first-place vote and 275 points, picked just ahead of New Mexico and UNLV with 270 and 269 points, respectively.

Colorado State, Wyoming and Fresno State made up the middle of the group after being picked fifth, sixth and seventh with 258, 256 and 232 points, respectively. Nevada (126) and Air Force (102) were picked ahead of the Aggies (98) in eighth and ninth and San José State rounded out the poll in 11th with 41 points.

Jalen Moore No. 17 on Sports Illustrated's Projected List of Breakout Players in 2014-15

Sophomore wing Jalen Moore has been pick No. 17 on Sports Illustrated's projected list of breakout players in 2014-15 as released in an article on Oct. 15. Said SI.com "Moore is the Aggies' only returning rotation player -- and thus it's hard to envision a scenario in which he doesn't become an important part of the offense".

In Pursuit of 400 USU Victories

Head coach Stew Morrill only needs 14 victories to hit the 400-win benchmark at Utah State, where he is entering his 17th season. Morrill recorded his 600th career victory in a 73-58 win over San José State last season, becoming just the 14th active coach to notch 600 wins in a career.

Counting Collette

Forward David Collette's 22 points in the season opener against Weber state are the most points scored by a freshman in the opening game of the season in school history, topping the 19 points Jaycee Carroll scored against Georgia Southern to start his career in 2004. It is also the most points scored by an Aggie newcomer since Brockeith Pane scored 23 points at home against Weber State in his USU debut to start the 2010-11 season.

Former Aggie All-American Tai Wesley holds the freshman single-game scoring record, recording 27 points against the University of Hawaii on Jan. 3, 2008.

MW Player of the Week

Collette was awarded Utah State's first ever Mountain West Player of the Week award on Nov. 17, following his showings in the opening games for the Aggies. Collette averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 assist in 28.0 minutes per game, while shooting 72.0 percent from the field (18-25) and 50.0 percent at the free throw line (3-6).

Last Time Out

NORMAL, Ill. - Utah State men's basketball had to overcome a second halftime deficit in as many games, but came away with a 60-55 victory at Illinois State on Sunday afternoon. The Aggies doubled their first-half scoring total with 40 in the second half, to move to 2-0 on the year while the Redbirds opened their 2014-15 season 0-1.

The 2-0 start is the seventh time that the Aggies have started perfect under head coach Stew Morrill and gave Utah State a 4-3 series advantage over the Redbirds. Freshman forward David Collette paced the Aggies in scoring for the second consecutive game, recording 17 points, including 13 in the second half.

Illinois State opened the game with three straight baskets, taking a 6-0 lead and putting the Aggies in a hole early. The margin grew to nine points, 12-3, with 12:34 on the clock, but free throws and a 3-point basket by sophomore guard Viko Noma'aea coming off the bench and an alley-oop layup by Collette from senior forward Sean Harris cut it to two, 12-10.

The Redbirds answered the seven-point run with an 11-0 run or their own to open a double-digit lead, 21-10 with 4:45 on the clock. The margin grew to as much as 12, 25-13, with 2:25 in the half, but baskets by junior guard Darius Perkins and sophomore wing Jalen Moore put the margin at seven, 27-20, going into the break.

Collette opened the second half with two of his 13 points over the final 20 minutes, hitting his first three attempts of the half and pulling Utah State to within four points, 34-30 with 16:01 on the clock. The second of two Moore dunks on the following possession cut the lead to two, 34-32.

The Utah State run continued when a Collette jumper tied the game at 36-36 with 13.46 and capped a 16-9 stretch for the Aggies to begin the second half. USU took its first lead of the contest minutes later when sophomore guard JoJo McGlaston hit a long-range 3-pointer to put the Aggies up 41-40. The Utah State lead grew to as much as eight, 50-42, on a Moore layup with 6:43 to play, but it was erased over the next two minutes when the Redbirds put together a 9-0 run and took the lead 51-50.

Another basket by Illinois State put the home side up 53-50, but a second 3-point bucket by McGlaston tied the game again at 53-53. It was matched by another 3-pointer by junior guard Chris Smith a minute later, putting the Aggies up 56-53 and giving them a lead that would hold throughout the rest of the game.

Perkins and Moore hit the front end of a pair of 1-and-1's down the stretch, keeping the game within reach of Illinois State. The Redbirds had the ball with seven seconds on the clock and down only three, 58-55, but a timely foul by McGlaston with four seconds left put ISU at the line. Both free throws were missed and Collette collected the rebound and converted each of his free throws in the 1-and-1 to punctuate the 60-55 Utah State victory.

Perkins joined Collette in double figures, scoring a career-high 14 points and connecting on 5-of-8 from the floor, including a team-best 3-of-6 from behind the 3-point line. Moore led the Aggies on the glass with a career-high nine rebounds and chipped in eight points, two assists, one block and a team-best two steals.

Illinois State was led by Daishon Knight with 17 points and he was followed by a double-double performance by DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell with 15 points and 10 rebounds, coming off the bench.

Utah State shot 70 percent (14-of-20) in the second half, after a 24.1 percent (7-of-29) performance in the first half en route to a 42.9 percent (21-of-49) clip for the game. Illinois State finished the game 22-of-67 from the floor, shooting 32.8 percent and out rebounded the Aggies 44 to 40, including 18 offensive rebounds.

Last time against Santa Clara

Utah State men's basketball rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to beat Santa Clara, 80-78, in overtime on the road on Nov. 29, 2012. Junior guard Preston Medlin hit a three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to force the extra session and hit another big trey in OT to secure USU's third-straight win, improving to 4-1 to start the season for the second time in the last three years.

Utah State had four players in double figures, led by Jarred Shaw with 15 and followed by Danny Berger, Medlin and Kyisean Reed each with 11 points. The Aggies shot 70 percent (14-of-20) in the second half en route to a 56 percent (28-of-50) showing for the game. USU overcame 25 turnovers and held the Broncos to just 28.6 percent (2-of-7) shooting in overtime to secure the win.

Preseason Wrap

Utah State went a perfect 2-0 in its exhibition games this season, capturing a 77-70 win over Texas A&M-International and 64-57 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith. The results continued a 15-game winning streak for the Aggies in exhibition games, dating back to the 2007-08 season.

Redshirt freshman forward David Collette paced USU during the games with 20.5 points per game and averaged 4.0 rebounds per contest. Collette shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from the field as the Aggies shot 39.0 percent (46-of-118) over the two games. Junior guard Chris Smith followed Collette in the scoring column with 10.5 points per game and matched the 4.0 rebounds per contest.

Sophomore wing Jalen Moore led the team in rebounds, among players that appeared in both games, averaging 5.5 per game and chipped in 9.5 points and 2.0 steals per outing.

Utah State held the opposition to 38.1 percent (45-of-118) from the field and 19.4 percent (7-of-36) from 3-point range. Opponents were able to out rebound the Aggies 41.5 to 39.5 and shot 73.2 percent (30-of-41) from the free throw line to USU's 67.8 percent (40-of-59).