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LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball continued its undefeated start to the 2015-16 season with a 73-49 victory over Union (Tenn.) on Friday night. The win moved the Aggies to 3-0 on the year, the 40th time in school history that USU has opened its basketball season with a perfect 3-0 mark.

First-year head coach Tim Duryea also improved to 3-0 in his inaugural season, matching seven other head coaches in Aggie history to record three straight wins in their first year at the helm of the program.

Utah State was led by junior wing Jalen Moore with 16 points, his second consecutive game scoring in double digits, stuffing the box score with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior guard Chris Smith also recorded double digits, scoring 10 points and pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds for the first double-double of his career. Sophomore forward Elston Jones narrowly missed a double-double, recording career highs of nine points and nine rebounds and shooting 4-of-5 from the floor.

The Aggies won the battle of the boards for the third consecutive time this season, tallying 47 to the Bulldogs' 40, and Utah State's bench outscored the opposition's bench for the third time on the year, recording 25 to Union's 14. Junior guard Shane Rector led the charge off the bench with nine points and tied Moore with a game-high three assists, part of a season-high 20 for USU during the game.

Utah State finished the night shooting 45.2 percent (28-of-62) from the floor, but just 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from behind the 3-point line and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from the free throw line. The Aggie defense was stout, holding Union to 29.4 percent (20-of-68) shooting from the field, 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from behind the arc and gave up just five free throws with the Bulldogs converting three (60.0 percent).

Utah State opened the game with a 5-0 run and built its first double-digit lead of 10, 15-5, just eight minutes into the game. A 3-point shot by Rector increased the margin to 22, 32-10, with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. The 20-plus difference held through the break when Jones collected an offensive rebound and laid the ball in as time expired, giving the Aggies a 38-14 advantage going into the locker rooms.

Utah State had its largest lead of the game, 55-22, following a 3-point shot by senior guard Darius Perkins six minutes into the second half. Union showed it still had some fight and went on a 20-6 run over the next seven-and-a-half minutes to pull to within 19, 61-42. However, it was as close as the visitors came down the stretch with the Aggies collecting the 73-49 victory at the final whistle.

Utah State will return to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 24, hosting in-state foe Utah Valley at 7 p.m., at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Single game tickets for the 2015-16 season are now available and begin at $17. USU men's basketball season ticket renewals, new season tickets and mini-plans are also available. Fans can purchase season tickets, starting at $230 and three-, four-, six- and nine-game mini-plans for as little as $30. For more 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.