by: Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State extended its winning streak to three and halted Colorado State's at two, as the Aggies led wire-to-wire in beating the Rams 87-72 in front of 7,509 fans Saturday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
Freshman center Neemias Queta and redshirt freshman guard Brock Miller paced five Aggies in double figures with 18 points apiece. Queta recorded the third double-double of his career as he also grabbed 11 rebounds, to go along with three blocks, two assists and two steals.
 
All six of Miller's field goals came from beyond the arc as he matched his career high in made 3-pointers. Miller shot 6-for-11 from the field overall, but 6-for-9 from 3-point land. Queta shot an efficient 8-for-11 from the field.
 
Joining those two freshmen in double-figure scoring for the Aggies (14-5, 4-2 Mountain West) were junior guard Sam Merrill (16), senior forward Quinn Taylor (12) and junior guard Diogo Brito (12). Utah State shot 54.2 percent from the field (32-of-59), including 48.0 percent from beyond the arc (12-of-25), and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-of-14).
 
Of the 32 made baskets by Utah State, 23 of them were assisted, including eight from Merrill and five from Taylor. The Aggies also dominated around the glass and in the paint as they outrebounded CSU, 39-24, and outscored the visitors in the paint, 38-20.
 
Saturday was the 99th meeting between the Aggies and Rams. Utah State now leads the overall series 59-40.
 
Just like the Aggies, five Rams scored in double figures, led by J.D. Paige, who had 17 points. Hyron Edwards had 14 points, Adam Thistlewood and Nico Carvacho chipped in 12 points apiece, and Kris Martin scored 10.
 
Carvacho, who battled Queta all night long down on the blocks, also finished with a double-double for CSU (7-11, 2-3 MW) as he grabbed a team-high 10 boards.
 
The Rams shot 45.1 percent from the field on the night (23-of-51), including 41.7 from beyond the arc (10-of-24), and 61.5 percent from the charity stripe (16-of-26).
 
The Aggies wasted no time in jumping out to the early lead, as Utah State made five of its first seven shots of the game, including a steal and coast-to-coast dunk by Queta, to give USU a 14-2 lead with 15:43 remaining in the first half.
 
During that stretch, CSU missed four of its first five shots and turned it over three times.
 
Colorado State did find its offense, though, and trimmed the lead to four on a couple of occasions, including 21-17 at the 10:32 mark.
 
However, that's as close as the Rams would get the rest of the way. USU eventually pushed its lead out to as many as 16 in the first half, thanks in part to a 20-8 spurt after Colorado State pulled within four.
 
The Rams committed 10 turnovers in the first half and the Aggies parlayed those into 12 points. Utah State led at the break 44-35.
 
Utah State will now enjoy a week off before returning to the court on Saturday, Jan. 26, when the Aggies take on New Mexico (9-9, 3-3 MW) in Albuquerque, N.M. The game, which is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m., will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
 
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-