by Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State put the finishing touches on its non-conference schedule with an 84-57 victory over NAIA-member Eastern Oregon 84-57 in front of 7,056 fans on Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
The Aggies, who open Mountain West play at No. 6 Nevada (12-0) on Wednesday, Jan. 2, finished their non-league schedule with a 10-3 mark, making it the best start under a first-year head coach in school history.
Sam Merrill led three players in double-figure scoring for Utah State as the junior guard poured in a game-high 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Freshman center
Neemias Queta contributed 13 points and seven rebounds for the Aggies, while redshirt freshman forward
Justin Bean added a career-high 12 points off the bench.
Jordan May led the Mountaineers with 16 points and Jarek Schetzle had 10 points and eight rebounds. Utah State limited Eastern Oregon to just 34.5 percent shooting from the field (20-of-58) and turned 21 turnovers by the visitors into 27 points.
The Aggies shot 44.8 percent from the field (30-of-67), but only 29.2 percent from 3-point range (7-of-24) and 70.8 percent from the free throw line (17-of-24). USU outrebounded Eastern Oregon 46-34 and had 21 assists on 30 made baskets.
Despite a sluggish start to the game for Utah State – Eastern Oregon led on three separate occasions, including a 7-4 advantage with 17:42 remaining in the first half – the Aggies eventually created some separation heading into the break.
After the Mountaineers went in front for the final time on the night, 11-10 with 14:10 to go, the Aggies used a game-changing 23-7 spurt to open up a 33-18 lead. Merrill scored 15 of USU's 23 points during that stretch, including the basket that gave the hosts the lead for good.
Behind Merrill's 20 first-half points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, Utah State led 45-26 at the break.
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).
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