LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball held its first official practice of the season on Friday, shaking off the dust of the offseason and looking forward to the 2015-16 campaign.

"First day in the books," first-year head coach Tim Duryea said at the end of the session. "A lot of guys out there running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but that's normal. Everybody was energetic and excited and we threw a lot at them today. They are doing a great job and they are a great group to work with."

The group includes nine returning letterwinners and three redshirts with experience in the system and four newcomers. Utah State returns all five starters from a team that finished 18-13 overall in 2014-15, including an 11-7 ledger in the Mountain West - the most wins by any second-year team in league history - as the Aggies finished tied for fourth.

Junior wing Jalen Moore (second team), sophomore forward David Collette (third team) and senior guard Chris Smith (honorable mention) headline the returners as each earned all-conference recognition last season. The trio also represented the only set of teammates to finish in the top 10 in scoring in the Mountain West, turning in 15.2 (sixth), 12.8 (ninth) and 12.6 (10th) points per game, respectively.

Senior guard Darius Perkins and sophomore guard Julion Pearre make up the rest of the returning starters for the Aggies. Perkins started at point guard throughout the 2014-15 campaign and led USU with 101 assists, averaging 3.3 per contest. Pearre started in each of the Aggies' final 24 games of the year and is considered one of the best defenders on the team after finishing second in steals (21) and matching up against opponents' top perimeter player.

In addition to the five returning starters, the Aggies also return four other letterwinners in senior wing Trace Cureton, sophomore forward Elston Jones, sophomore guard Henry Bolton III and junior guard Viko Noma'aea. USU also returns three redshirts in redshirt senior forward Grayson Moore, redshirt junior forward Lew Evans and redshirt freshman forward Quinn Taylor.

Junior transfer guard Shane Rector (Miami Dade College), sophomore transfer Alexis Dargenton (Laramie County CC), freshman guard John Middleton (Atlantic City, N.J.) and freshman guard Jake Miles (Morgan, Utah) are the four newcomers set to add their talents to the mix.

"I was excited about the day, a little anxious, but excited to get going," Duryea said of his first practice as head coach. "It is even more exciting for me because of the quality of guys I am able to work with. We have a lot of returners and a lot of really good kids who want to get better and really want to win. Today is the first day of that journey and I'm excited and thrilled for the opportunity."

Utah State will host its Prime Time Madness event on Thursday, Oct. 8, giving fans their first look at the team in a scrimmage and skills competition. The Aggies will host a pair of exhibition games against Oklahoma Panhandle State and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Friday, Nov. 6, before opening the 2015-16 campaign on the road at Weber State on Friday, Nov. 13. USU will open at home in the first of 16 home contests on Tuesday, Nov. 17, against Adams State.

USU men's basketball season ticket renewals and new season tickets are now on sale. For more Aggie men's basketball ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook facebook.com/USUmen'sbasketball and 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.

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