by: Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations
 
LOGAN, Utah – It wasn't the prettiest game Utah State has put together this season, but the Aggies remained perfect on the year and against Utah Valley with a 65-46 victory over the Wolverines on Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
Senior forward Quinn Taylor recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Aggies (4-0) improved to 14-0 all-time against the Wolverines (1-3). Junior guard Sam Merrill joined Taylor in double figures with a team-high 14 points.
 
This was the second of four games for each team in the MGM Main Event.
 
Defensively, Utah State limited UVU to its lowest point total of the season. The Wolverines shot just 30.9 percent from the field (17-for-55), including 23.1 percent from 3-point range (3-for-13).
 
Neither team shot well at all in the first half, but the Aggies caught fire at the right time. Utah State closed the half on a 12-0 run to take a 32-20 lead into the break. During that key stretch, UVU was 0-for-5 from the field and missed its only free throw attempt, to go along with three turnovers.
 
In fact, the Wolverines went the final 4:42 without scoring, and committed four turnovers during the final 5:33.
 
Utah State was just 13-of-36 from the field (36.1 percent) during the first 20 minutes of play, including 2-of-12 from beyond the arc (16.7 percent). Conversely, UVU was 9-of-28 from the field (32.1 percent) and 2-of-8 from 3-point range (25.0 percent).
 
The Aggies opened the second half by scoring the first four points to bump their lead to 16, but the Wolverines did not fold. Utah Valley hung around and eventually cut the deficit to 40-33 with 12:56 remaining.
 
However, that's as close as UVU would get the rest of the way. Utah State took control of the game for good with a 21-4 spurt as the lead ballooned to 61-37 with 4:48 to go.
 
Offensively, the Aggies have won their first three games by at least 19 points. Utah State finished the night shooting 36.2 percent from the field (25-of-69), but just 18.2 percent from beyond the arc (4-of-22).
 
Behind Taylor's 15 boards, Utah State outrebounded UVU 50-37. Freshman center Neemias Queta added eight rebounds for the Aggies, who also got six points, five assists and five rebounds from junior guard Diogo Brito.
 
TJ Washington led Utah Valley in scoring with 14 points and Conner Toolson added 11.
 
Utah State's bench outscored UVU's 33-12, getting nine from sophomore guard John Knight III and eight from freshman guard Tauriawn Knight. Both Knights also contributed to a season-high 11 steals, with John leading the team with four, followed by Tauriawn with three.
 
Utah State concludes play in the MGM Main Event next week when the Aggies head to Las Vegas, Nev., for a pair of contests. USU will first take on Saint Mary's on Monday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m. (MT), then square off against either Arizona State or Mississippi State on Wednesday, Nov. 21.
 
Fans can purchase season tickets, or on a game-by-game basis. Fans can purchase tickets at the Utah State ticket office, located on the first floor of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Tickets are also available online at utahstateaggies.com/tickets, or by calling the ticket office at (435) 797-0305 or (888)-USTATE-1.
 
Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).
 
-USU-