by: Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations
LOGAN, Utah – Junior guard
Sam Merrill scored a game-high 20 points, to go along with five rebounds and three assists, in leading Utah State to a 71-52 win over Northern Iowa on Wednesday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The game, which pitted two first-time opponents against each other, was part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge. The Aggies improved to 2-2 all-time in the MW/MVC Challenge.
Merrill connected on 7-of-14 shots from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, as Utah State (6-1) improved to 4-0 at home this season.
Utah State finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the field (25-of-50) and 72.7 percent from the free throw line (16-of-22). The Aggies made just five of the 16 3-point shots they took for a 31.3 percent clip.
For the fourth time this season, every Aggie that checked into the game scored at least two points, as well as grabbed at least one board, helping Utah State outrebound Northern Iowa 41-31.
Senior forward
Quinn Taylor, freshman center
Neemias Queta, sophomore guard
John Knight III and junior guard
Diogo Brito tied Merrill for the team high in rebounds with five.
Queta also had two blocks, marking the fourth time in the last five games that he has had multiple swats. He has had at least one block in every game this year.
Sophomore guard
Crew Ainge handed out a career-high four assists for the Aggies, who had 15 helpers on 25 made baskets.
Luke McDonnell was the lone Panther to score in double figures as he had 14 points. Northern Iowa (3-4) shot just 31.0 percent on the night (18-of-58), scoring a season-low 52 points.
The Aggies never trailed on the night as they scored nine of the first 11 points and led 18-8 with 11:13 to go in the first half. The Panthers reeled off a 13-4 run to pull within 22-21 with 4:16 to go, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the night.
Behind Merrill's 10 first-half points, Utah State led 31-23 at the break.
Utah State led by as many as 21 points in the second half.
The Aggies will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 1, when they take on UC Irvine at 8 p.m. (MT), at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
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).