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Utah State (7-1) plays the first of two in-state opponents this week, opening at BYU (5-4) on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on BYUtv (DirecTV 374, Dish 9403).

Opening Tips
• Utah State trails BYU 92-142 in what is the longest series in Utah State history. The Aggies have lost each of the last six games.

• Utah State has outrebounded every opponent this season and ranks third in the nation in rebounding margin (+13.6).

• Utah State has recorded double-digit offensive rebounds in all but two games this season and has pulled down 30 or more defensive rebounds in every game this season.

• Utah State has recorded 40 or more rebounds in a game six times already this season, matching the entirety of the 2017-18 campaign.

• Utah State has had four different players score 20 or more points over the opening eight games. Furthermore, USU has had five different players lead the team in scoring over the first eight games of the season.

• Utah State has recorded 15 or more assists in every game this season and ranks 19th in the nation in assists per game (17.6) and 20th in the nation in total assists (141).

• Utah State has limited seven of its eight opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor and ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.356).

• Junior guard Sam Merrill is the only player in the Mountain West that ranks in the top five in the league in free throw percentage (.905, 3rd), field goal percentage (.519, 4th) and 3-point field goal percentage (.444, 5th).

• Merrill became the 38th Aggie to surpass 1,000 points in his career with his 17 points at UC Irvine. Merrill currently has 1,007 career points to rank No. 36 in school history.

• Freshman center Neemias Queta has recorded at least one block in every game this season, making it the longest streak for an Aggie since the 2014-15 season.

Scouting BYU
BYU is 5-4 on the year and riding a three-game losing streak with losses against Houston (62-76), Illinois State (89-92) and Weber State (103-113).

The Cougars are averaging 84.7 points per game and shooting 46.3 percent (273-of-589) from the floor, 28.3 percent (62-of-219) from behind the 3-point line and 72.6 percent (154-of-212) at the free throw line. Junior forward Yoeli Childs leads three players averaging double figures for the Cougars with a team-best 22.0 points per game, followed by junior guards TJ Haws with 15.6 and Jahshire Hardnett with 12.6. Childs also paces the Cougars on the glass, averaging 11.9 rebounds per game. Haws leads BYU with 45 assists on the year, averaging 5.0 per game.

Defensively, BYU opponents are averaging 76.9 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent (245-of-604) from the floor, 35.7 percent (76-of-213) from behind the 3-point line and 70.4 percent (126-of-179) at the free throw line. Hardnett leads the Cougars with 11 steals, while Childs leads the team with 11 blocks.

Block Party
Queta has as many blocks (18) as the rest of the team combined (18). With Queta's three blocks last week, he is now ranked fifth all-time for blocks in a season by a freshman at USU.

Back-To-Back Wire-to-Wire Victories
Utah State has posted wire-to-wire in victories in each of the its last two games, posting a 71-52 victory over Northern Iowa and an 89-65 at UC Irvine.

Run Away Victories
Utah State has dominated in its victories this season as every win has come by more than 17 points. The Aggies' average margin of victory this season is 20.8 points to rank No. 15 in the nation.

Run Away Victories - Part II
Utah State has already posted four victories of 20 points or more over the first eight games of the season. The Aggies only had three victories over 20 or more over the entire course of last season.

Glass Eaters
Utah State has recorded double-digit offensive rebounds in all but two games this season and has pulled down 30 or more defensive rebounds in every game this season. USU ranks sixth in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (32.0).

Glass Eaters - Part II
Utah State has recorded 40 or more rebounds in a game six times already this season, matching the entirety of the 2017-18 campaign. USU ranks No. 15 in the nation with 43.1 rebounds per game.

Defensive Victories
Utah State is undefeated this season when recording more blocks or steals than its opponents this season. 

Defensive Victories - Part II
Utah State has limited seven of its eight opponents to less than 40 percent shooting from the floor and ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.356).

Moving the Ball Around
Utah State has recorded 15 or more assists in every game this season, including a season-best 24 on 29 baskets against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 13. The Aggies rank No. 19 in the nation with 17.6 assists per game.

Balanced Scoring Leaders
Utah State has had four different players score 20 or more points over the opening eight games. Furthermore, Utah State has had five different players lead the team in scoring over the first eight games of the season.

Aggie Thievery
Utah State has had at least one player record multiple steals in every game this season.

Winning at the Half
Utah State is a perfect 7-0 when leading at the half and has held five of the last six opponents to less than 30 points over the opening 20 minutes.

Winning on the Road
Utah State has as many road victories (2) this season as the entirety of the 2017-18 season.

Haven't Seen that Start Since 2012-13
Utah State has opened the season with a 7-1 record, matching the best start since the 2012-13 season when the team opened the year 14-1.

Nifty Fifty
Utah State has shot 50 percent or better in eight of 15 halves this season.

Nifty Fifty - Part II
Utah State has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in half of its games this season and ranks 37th in the nation in field goal percentage (.492).

Nifty Fifty - Part III
Utah State has scored 50 or more points in five halves this season.