Complete Release

STORYLINES

• The game with USC will mark the 16th time the two schools have faced on the hardwood with the Trojans carrying an 8-7 lead in the all-time series.

• Utah State has won three of the last four meetings between the two schools, including a 78-65 victory in the season opener last year. The other victories included a 52-50 win at the 1999 Maui Invitational and a 78-65 win in Los Angeles during the 1962-63 season.

• The game in Los Angeles will be the first since 1979 when USC captured an 86-67 win.

• Head coach Stew Morrill has a perfect 2-0 record against USC and is 30-34 all-time against the PAC-12.

• Head coach Stew Morrill is 139-46 (.751) against teams from the Golden State in 17 years with USU.

• Utah State is 94-25 (.797) during the month of December under head coach Stew Morrill and USU is 9-6 overall on known games played on Dec. 7.

• Utah State is 79-38 (.675) over the past 14 years in games following a loss.

• Utah State has encountered losing streaks of three or more games just eight times in head coach Stew Morrill's 17-year tenure.

• Utah State has won 33 of its last 61 road games and is 111-95 (.539) overall in road games under head coach Stew Morrill.

• Utah State has an overall record of 1,521-1,049 (.592) in its 2,570 games played.

• Utah State is in the top 30 nationally in three statistical categories. The Aggies are eighth in the nation in turnovers per game (9.4), 19th in the nation in fewest turnovers (47) and 26th in the nation in 3-point field goal defense (.260).

THIS WEEK

Utah State (3-3, 0-0 MW) will travel to Los Angeles, Calif. and face the USC Trojans (5-3, 0-0 PAC 12) on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. (MT). The game is scheduled to be broadcast on the PAC 12 Network. Fans can also listen to the game on the Aggie Sports Network with Al Lewis on the call.

COMING UP

Utah State will face its third in-state opponent of the year when the Aggies travel to Orem and face Utah Valley at the UCCU Center at 7 p.m. (MT). The game will be streamed online via the WAC Digital Network and UVU TV. Fans can also listen to the game on the Aggie Sports Network with Al Lewis on the call.

Stew Morrill COACH'S SHOW

Utah State head coach Stew Morrill will sit down with Al Lewis each Monday night from 6:05 to 7 p.m. beginning Nov. 24 for the Stew Morrill Coach's Show. The upcoming show on Dec. 8 will be held at A&W Restaurant at 701 North Main in Logan.

MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES LUNCHEONS

The Big Blue Scholarship Fund will host nine men's basketball coaches luncheons throughout the year with the next event scheduled for Dec. 9 at Noon at the Homewood Suites (423 West 300 South) in Salt Lake City.

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 on Sunday afternoon can be seen on the PAC-12 Network with Jim Watson as play-by-play and Don Maclean as the analyst.

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.

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.

LOOKING AT UTAH STATE

Utah State opened the season with three straight come-from-behind victories before suffering three consecutive losses at Mississippi State (71-63), at UC Davis (77-70) and at home against BYU (91-81). USU trailed at the half in each of its victories and has led at the break in each of its three defeats.

The Aggies have been led offensively by sophomore wing Jalen Moore with 14.7 points per game and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game. Moore has scored in double figures in all but one of Utah State's six games this season, leading the Aggies with 15 against Santa Clara and 17 at UC Davis. He is followed by junior guard Chris Smith with 13.2 points, coming off a team-leading 25 points against BYU. Smith is also second on the team with 4.5 rebounds per game and leads the team, shooting 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from behind the 3-point line.

Junior guard Darius Perkins is also averaging double-digit points, tallying 12.8 per game and leads the team with 3.7 assists per game and 16 3-point field gaols this season. Redshirt freshman forward David Collette rounds out the double-digit scorers for the Aggies, averaging 12.2 points per game. Collette led the team with 22 points against Weber State and 20 points at Illinois State.

As a team, Utah State is shooting 41.9 percent from the field (111-of-265), 36.3 percent (37-of-102) from behind the 3-point line and 66.7 percent (66-of-99) from the free throw line.

LAST TIME OUT

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball recorded a season-high 81 points and was paced by four players in double figures, including career highs from junior guards Chris Smith and Darius Perkins, but suffered a 91-81 loss to the BYU Cougars on Tuesday night. The defeat drops the Aggies to 3-3 overall on the year while BYU moved to 6-2 with the win.

The loss also snapped a 29-game home winning streak against in-state opponents for the Aggies with the last home loss also coming against BYU, 82-73, on Jan. 8, 2000.

Smith finished his night with 25 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, including 3-for-5 from behind the 3-point line. His total also included an 8-for-9 showing at the free throw line as he also added three rebounds, four assists and one steal. Perkins was just behind with 21 points, scoring Utah State's final seven points of the game. Perkins shot 8-of-12 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from deep and added a pair of free throws, where he was 2-of-3 from the line.

Sophomore wing Jalen Moore recorded the team's first double-double of the year, turning in 15 points and pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds, for the first double-double of his career. Redshirt freshman forward David Collette was the final Aggie in double digits with 12 points in just 16 minutes of action where he also added five rebounds.

Utah State took a lead into the half for the third consecutive game with a 32-31 advantage. The lead was as large as four when Smith hit a jumper at 1:32 that put the Aggies up 32-28. The shot was matched by a 3-point shot by BYU's Chase Fischer at 1:11 that trimmed the gap to one, 32-31, going into the half. The first 20 minutes included five lead changes and four ties as neither team led by more than six points to open the contest.

USU continued to lead through the beginning of the second half, including a 48-46 advantage with 12:37 to play. However, the Cougars then went on a 12-0 run over a span of close to four minutes, giving the visitors a 58-48 lead and an advantage that would not be relinquished. Utah State came within single digits down the stretch, but BYU was a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line over the final 1:32 of play to secure the victory.

The Cougars were led by senior guard Tyler Haws with 35 points and he was followed by junior guard Kyle Collinsworth with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Anson Winder was the final Cougar in double figures, turning in 17 points off the bench in 29 minutes of play.

Utah State out shot the Cougars, 45.6 percent (26-of-57) to 39.4 percent (26-of-66), but lost the battle of the boards as BYU finished with 46 rebounds, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points, to USU's 33. The Aggies shot a season-high 30 free throws, converting a season-high 21.

BYU Notables

* Utah State is now 239-28 at home under head coach Stew Morrill, including a 120-11 home record in non-conference games.

* Utah State had its 29 game home winning streak against in-state competition snapped and is now 31-2 at home against teams from the state of Utah under Morrill. The last time USU lost a home game to an in-state team prior to tonight was Brigham Young, 82-73, on Jan. 8, 2000.

* Utah State has now won 36 of their last 47 games against in-state opponents and is 44-15 against the state of Utah in the last 15 years under Morrill.

* USU has now won 107 of its last 118 games when scoring 70 points and is 249-36 all-time under Morrill when scoring 70 points in a game.

* Utah State scored a season-high 81 points and allowed a season-high 91 points. * Utah State tied its season-high in free throws made (21) and shot a season-high 30 free throws. USU also had season-highs in turnovers (15) and fouls (26) and has now committed double-digit turnovers in just three games this year.

* Utah State had four players score in double-figures for the second-straight game, after not accomplishing the feat in each of its first four games of the season.

* Junior guard Chris Smith scored a career-high 25 points and added a career-best four assists, while tying his career-high with one steal. Smith also had career-highs in field goals made (7), free throws made (8) and free throws attempted (9), and tied his career-high in field goal attempts (10).

* The 25 points by Chris Smith is the most scored by an Aggie since Spencer Butterfield had 31 points against UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 20, 2013. Overall, Smith has now scored in double-figures in each of his last four games and in four games this season. Overall, it is his first career 20-point game.

* Junior guard Darius Perkins scored a career-high 21 points as he has now scored in double-figures in each of his last three games and in four games this season. Overall, it is his first career 20-point game. Smith also had a career-high eight made field goals.

* Sophomore wing Jalen Moore recorded his first career double-double as he had 15 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-figure rebounding game. Overall, Moore has now scored in double-figures in each of his last four games and in five games this year, and in nine games in his career.

* Redshirt freshman forward David Collette scored in double-figures for third time this year and first time in four games with his 12 points.

* Senior forward Sean Harris scored a career-high four points.

SCOUTING USC

USC will enter the game on Sunday afternoon with an overall record of 5-3 and riding a four-game winning streak after posting victories over Drexel (72-70), CS Fullerton (63-61), New Mexico (66-54) and Loyola Marymount (77-61).

The Trojans have shot 40.4 percent (183-of-453) from the floor, including 30.8 percent (37-of-120) from behind the 3-point line. Freshman guard Jordan McLaughlin is the only player averaging double figures on the roster, leading the team with 11.9 points per game, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. Sophomore forward Nikola Jovanovic leads the team on the glass with 8.1 rebounds per game with the Trojans leading their competition 39.2 to 36.9 per game.

USC has held opponents to 38.2 percent (181-of-474) shooting from the floor, including a 30.9 percent (50-of-162) from long range. The Trojans have totaled 36 blocks and 53 steals on the year, averaging 4.5 and 6.6 per game, respectively.

LAST TIME AGAINST USC

Senior guard Preston Medlin led four players in double-figures and Utah State men's basketball used a 12-0 first-half run to propel the Aggies to a 78-65 win over USC in the season opener for both schools during the 2013-14 season.

Medlin netted four three-pointers on the way to a team-high 17 points, in his first official game since mid-December, while fellow senior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield and senior center Jarred Shaw scored 12 points apiece. Sophomore forward Kyle Davis notched 10 points in his Aggie debut, adding seven rebounds, three blocks, three assists and one steal.

Junior forward Danny Berger tied a career-high with eight rebounds in his first official USU game since early December, adding five points, and four assists. Senior guard TeNale Roland added eight points, hitting a pair of three-pointers, while junior center Jordan Stone scored eight points off the bench, helping USU to a 19-8 bench-points advantage.

USU shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the field, including 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from three-point range, as well as 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) at the free throw line.

The Trojans were led by J.T. Terrell's game-high 20 points, netting 3-of-9 from three-point range, while Omar Oraby and Byron Wesley scored 15 points apiece. Oraby also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while Wesley and Julian Jacobs each snared eight as USC had a slight, 39-38, rebounding edge.

LAST TIME AGAINST USC IN LOS ANGELES

USC scored 51 points in the second half to run away with an 86-67 victory at Pauley Pavilion on March 9, 1979. Utah State was led by junior guard Keith McDonald with 23 points and he was followed by a double-double effort of 17 points and 13 rebounds by freshman forward Brian Jackson. Dean Hunger, a junior forward, was the final double-digit scorer for the Aggies, turning in 10. The Trojans were led by Steve Smith with 19 and he was followed by Purvis Miller with 16 and Don Carfino with 11.

USC shot 57.1 percent (36-of-63) from the floor for the game, including 74.1 percent in the second half. Utah State finished the game shooting 45.2 percent (28-of-62) and trailed the Trojans on the glass as well, 35-28.

UTAH STATE-USC TIES

• Utah State and USC share similar themes of inexperience in 2014-15 as the Aggies returned only four players from the roster last season. The Trojans are one of the youngest teams in the nation as the roster includes 11 underclassmen on a roster of 14 without any seniors.

• USU assistant coach Chris Jones played for and coach at the University of Utah, now a member of the PAC-12 conference.

• USC assistant coach Tony Bland played two years at San Diego State (2001-2003).

• Utah State has four players from the state of California, including freshman guard John Bennett (Palo Alto/Pinewood School), sophomore guard JoJo McGlaston (Dublin/Dublin), senior forward Sean Harris (Rocklin/Yuba CC/Rocklin) and junior guard Chris Smith (Sacramento/Yuba CC/Center).

SHARING THE LOVE

Utah State has tallied 78 assists on 137 baskets this season with players creating opportunities for teammates 56.9 percent of the time. The Aggies are currently fourth in the Mountain West with 13.0 assists per game.

AGGIE BLOCK PARTY

Utah State has come close to doubling up its competition on the block, recording 22 blocks this season to its opponents' 12.

60 IS A LUCKY NUMBER

Utah State is 2-0 this season and 194-16 (.924) overall under head coach Stew Morrill when holding opponents under 60 points. The Aggies have won 129 of their last 135 games when holding opponents under the 60-point threshold.

70 IS EVEN LUCKIER

Utah State has won 107 of its last 120 games (.914) when reaching 70 points and is now 249-38 (.876) all-time under head coach Stew Morrill when scoring 70 points in a game.

Jalen Moore NO. 17 ON SI'S PROJECTED LIST OF BREAKOUT PLAYERS IN 2014-15

Sophomore wing Jalen Moore has been picked 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".

LOSING THE BATTLE OF THE BOARDS

Utah State is currently minus-9.7 in rebounding, as opponents have averaged 41.7 boards to the Aggies' 32.0. The margin includes an 87-45 differential on the offensive glass.

IN PURSUIT OF 400 USU VICTORIES

Head coach Stew Morrill only needs 13 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 Jaycee Carroll holds the single-game freshman record, scoring 28 points against UC Santa Barbara, Jan. 6, 2005.

NO THREES FOR YOU

Utah State is one of the best in the nation in defending the 3-point line, holding opponents to just 24.8 percent from behind the 3-point line. The mark is currently first in the Mountain West and 26th nationally.

LOCK DOWN D

Utah State has picked up its victories this season when keeping opponents under 40 percent, holding Weber State to 38.8 percent (19-of-49), Illinois State to 32.8 percent (22-of-67) and Santa Clara to 36.4 percent (20-of-55).

GOING THE DISTANCE

Utah State's starting five has recorded more than 70 percent of minutes played, almost 90 percent of the team's points and more than 65 percent of the team's total rebounds this season. The starting lineup has been the same each of the first five games - David Collette, Jalen Moore, Chris Smith, JoJo McGlaston and Darius Perkins.

ANOTHER OPENING

Utah State has debuted a total of nine players this season. The number represents 69 percent of the players to have suited up for the Aggies this season.

FAVORITES AS THE UNDERDOGS

Utah State has trailed at the half in each of its three victories this season, but came back in the second half in each game to pick up the wins. The Aggies out scored their opponents 117-65 and shot 53.5 percent (38-of-71), 43.4 percent (10-of-23) from three and 67.4 percent (31-of-46) from the free throw line over the final 20 minutes. The numbers extend to the defensive side of the ball where USU held opponents to 26.1 percent (23-of-88) from the floor, 12.5 percent (3-of-24) from deep and 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the charity stripe.

UNEASY WITH PROSPERITY

On the flip side, Utah State is 0-3 this season when leading at the half. USU had halftime leads of 38-34 at Mississippi State, 29-27 at UC Davis and 32-31 at home against BYU before falling in the end.

MW PLAYER OF THE WEEK (11/17)

Redshirt freshman forward David 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).

DOUBLE DOWN, NO PROBLEMS

Utah State has faced five double-digit deficits this season, but have been able to come back and take the lead in four of the five games. USU was down 18 points to Weber State, down 12 at Illinois State and down 15 against Santa Clara before coming back and winning each game. The Aggies overcame an 11-point second half deficit at UC Davis, taking a three-point lead with seconds left, but ultimately fell in overtime.

CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Utah State leads the Mountain West in defensive 3-point field goal percentage (.248) and is in the top five of several other statistics among conference schools. The Aggies are fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.381), fourth in assists (13.0 per game), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and fourth in 3-point field goals made (7.4 per game).

RECENT TRENDS

• Junior guard Darius Perkins is second on the team in scoring over the past three games, averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 47.4 percent (18-of-38) from the field, including a team-best 10 3-pointers. Perkins scored a career-high 21 points against BYU, marking the first time this season that he has turned in more than 20 points in a game. Perkins is also leading the team with four steals over the past three games.

• Sophomore wing Jalen Moore has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, averaging 15.0 per contest and is shooting 50.0 percent (18-of-36) from the field and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from behind the 3-point line. Moore has also led the team with 6.3 rebounds per game, including a career-best 11 rebounds against BYU. He recorded the first double-double of his career against the Cougars with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

• Junior guard Chris Smith has led the Aggies in scoring over the past four games, averaging 16.5 points per game and turning in double digits in each game, including a career-high 25 against BYU. Smith has shot 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from the floor, 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the free throw line. He has also been strong in ball security as he has only committed one turnover while dishing out a team-best 11 assists.

• Redshirt freshman forward David Collette has fouled out in back-to-back games, but scored 12 points against BYU in just 16 minutes, marking the third time this year that he has scored in double digits.