Box Score | Quotes | Notes

PROVO, Utah -- Utah State men's basketball endured a near seven-minute stretch over the first and second halves without a basket and the drought ultimately led to an 80-68 defeat at BYU on Wednesday night. The loss was just the second for the Aggies on the year, falling to 5-2, while the Cougars moved to 6-2 with the win.

Utah State was strong from behind the 3-point line throughout the night, shooting better from behind the line, 45.0 percent, than from inside the arc, 35.4 percent. The Aggies opened the game with back-to-back 3-point buckets and closed the contest with three straight from long range.

Senior guards Chris Smith and Darius Perkins put the Aggies up 6-2 with their opening 3-point shots, but BYU countered with an 8-2 run to take a 10-8 lead. The Cougars continued to lead throughout the first half and extended the margin to 39-24 going into the break as the Aggies went scoreless over the final 4:55 of the half.

The scoring lull continued for Utah State over the first two minutes of the second half until a jumper by junior wing Jalen Moore ended the drought with 18:21 on the clock.

The Aggies came to within 12, 52-40, later in the half when a layup by sophomore forward Elston Jones capped a six-point run for USU with 12:24 to play. However, BYU answered and extended its lead to more than 20, including an 80-58 advantage with 3:31 to play.

Utah State then closed out the game on a 10-0 run behind three consecutive 3-pointers from Smith, Moore and sophomore guard Julion Pearre, leading to the final score, 80-68.

Moore paced the team in scoring, finishing with 15 points and adding a career-high three steals. Smith and junior guard Shane Rector joined him in double figures, tallying 12 points apiece. Rector also matched his career high with six assists.

Overall, Utah State shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the floor, 45.0 percent (9-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the free throw line.

BYU was led in scoring by senior guard Chase Fischer with 24 points, followed by freshman guard Nick Emery (17), junior forward Kyle Davis (14) and sophomore center Corbin Kaufusi (10), all in double figures. Davis also led both teams with 14 rebounds, finishing with a double-double. Overall, BYU shot 42.9 percent (30-of-70) from the floor, 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 80.0 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw line.

Utah State will be back on the court on Saturday, returning to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host UC Irvine at 7 p.m.

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.