By Ashley Springer, USU Athletic Media Relations

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Utah State men's basketball (12-5, 2-2 MW) defeated Wyoming (4-13, 0-4 MW) in Laramie, Wyo., for the first time in 57 years, 71-55, in the Arena Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies last won on the road against the Cowboys on Feb. 16, 1962.

Four Aggies scored in double figures in the victory, led by junior guard Sam Merrill with a team-high 22 points. Merrill's total increased his career total to 1,165 and moved him to No. 26 on the all-time scoring list, passing Jimmy Moore (1973-75) with 1,164 career points. Merrill was followed in scoring by freshman center Neemias Queta with 14, senior forward Dwayne Brown Jr. with 13 and junior guard Diogo Brito with 10. Merrill also led the Aggies with a career-high eight rebounds and four assists.

Utah State got out to a sluggish start in the first half, shooting 2-for-11 over the opening minutes, as Wyoming built a 12-4 lead going into the first media timeout. However, the Aggies stayed close and a Brito 3-point bucket with 2:05 on the clock gave USU a 24-21 lead. Utah State never trailed down the stretch of the first half as a last-second, 3-point basket by Merrill put the Aggies up 32-25 going into the half.

The teams went back-and-forth to start the second half, with Wyoming cutting USU's lead to three, 39-36, with 14:31 on the clock. A trey from Brown Jr. started a 9-0 Utah State run for the 50-37 edge with 11:06 to go. USU then extended its lead to 18, 66-48, after a Brito three and Merrill jumper with 4:24 left to play. The Aggies maintained the double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, and a pair of Brito free throws put the final Aggie points on the board as USU won, 71-55.

Wyoming was led by senior guard Justin James with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard/forward Trevon Taylor also scored in double figures with 14 points. 

The Aggies shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from behind the arc and 58.5 percent (10-of-17) at the free throw line. Wyoming shot 40.0 percent (20-of-50) from the floor, 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from the 3-point line and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) at the free throw line. 

Utah State continues its road trip in San Jose, Calif., as USU takes on San José State (3-12, 0-3 MW) on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 8 p.m. (MT).

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-