WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - DECEMBER 23, 2019
Weekly Aggie Update 
MEN'S BASKETBALL       
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066 
 
This Week
Sat., Dec. 28 --- EASTERN OREGON, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State (12-2, 2-0 MW) men's basketball continues its 2019-20 season this week, hosting Eastern Oregon (7-6) on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 2 p.m. USU is 2-0 all-time against the Mountaineers. Fans can watch the game on the Mountain West Network, online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.   
 
Last Week
W, 76-74 (OT) --- vs. South Florida, Houston, Texas
W, 65-62 --- vs. Florida, Sunrise, Fla.
• Utah State posted a 2-0 neutral court record last week with a 76-74 overtime win against South Florida in Houston, Texas, inside the Toyota Center at the Battleground 2k19, and a 65-62 victory over Florida in Sunrise, Fla., inside the BB&T Center as part of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. Against the Bulls, sophomore forward Justin Bean's putback with 0.2 seconds on the clock in overtime sealed the victory for the Aggies. Bean finished the game with a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior guard Sam Merrill led the Aggies with a game-high 21 points. They were joined in double figures by sophomore center Neemias Queta with 18 points, junior forward Alphonso Anderson with 12 points and junior guard Abel Porter with 10 points. USU finished the game shooting 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the floor, 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from behind the 3-point line and 69.6 percent (16-of-23) at the free throw line. USF shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the floor, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from behind the 3-point line and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) at the free throw line. Against the Gators, Merrill was named the MVP of the game after leading the Aggies with 21 points, to go along with a career-high nine rebounds and five assists. Bean added 12 points and nine rebounds, and senior guard Diogo Brito had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Brito was a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds as the Aggies finished the game shooting 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the floor, 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from behind the 3-point line and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) at the free throw line. The Gators shot 32.3 percent (20-of-62) from the floor, 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from behind the 3-point line and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) at the free throw line. 
 
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL               
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-8584 
 
Next Week
Wed., Jan. 1 --- UNLV, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 4 --- at San Diego State, 2 p.m. (MT)
• Utah State women's basketball (5-8, 0-2 MW) resumes Mountain West play next week with two games as it hosts UNLV (4-8, 0-1 MW) on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 7 p.m., and then plays at San Diego State (6-7, 1-1 MW) on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m. (MT). All-time, the Aggies are 4-22 against the Lady Rebels and 6-7 against the Aztecs.
 
Last Week
W, 66-55 --- NORTH TEXAS
W, 69-61 --- IDAHO STATE
L, 49-57 --- at Utah Valley
•  Utah State went 2-1 last week with a 66-55 home win against North Texas, a 69-61 home win against Idaho State and a 57-49 road loss to Utah Valley. Against the Mean Green, senior guard Lindsey Jensen-Baker had a career-high 32 points and senior forward Hailey Bassett added 20 points. USU shot a season high 49.1 percent (26-of-53) from the field, a season best 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from behind the arc, and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) at the free throw line. UNT shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from behind the 3-point line and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the free throw line. Against the Bengals, Jensen-Baker had 22 points, Bassett scored 15 points and senior forward Marlene Aniambossou added 11 points. USU shot 42.6 percent (20-of-47) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from behind the arc and 92.3 percent (24-of-36) at the free throw line. ISU shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the floor, 30.0 percent (6-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) at the free throw line. Against the Wolverines, freshman guard Faith Brantley had 14 points and Bassett scored 13 points. USU shot 29.2 percent (14-of-48) from the field, 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from behind the arc and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) at the free throw line. UVU shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from behind the 3-point line and 86.7 percent (13-of-15) at the free throw line. 
 
 
FOOTBALL          
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714 
 
Last Week
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl, Frisco, Texas
L, 41-51 --- vs. Kent State
• Utah State's football team (7-6, 6-2 MW) concluded its 2019 season with a 51-41 loss to Kent State in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl, held last weekend in Frisco, Texas. Junior quarterback Jordan Love was 30-of-39 passing for 317 yards and a season-high-tying three touchdowns, including two to senior graduate transfer wide receiver Siaosi Mariner. Mariner had seven catches for 113 yards. His 11-yard touchdown reception with 3:06 to go in the game pulled the Aggies to within 44-41. However, Kent State's Jamal Parker recovered a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff and returned it 44 yards, setting up the final touchdown for the Golden Flashes (7-6) on a 4-yard run by quarterback Dustin Crum on fourth-and-1. Crum, tabbed the Offensive MVP of the game, accounted for 436 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. He was 21-of-26 passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a game-best 147 rushing yards and the one fourth-quarter score on 23 carries. Senior running back Gerold Bright led the Aggies on the ground with 94 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Sophomore wide receiver Deven Thompkins scored on a 57-yard run early in the fourth quarter to pull Utah State to tie the game at 34-all. Thompkins also caught four passes for 51 yards and a touchdown, while junior wide receiver Jordan Nathan led Utah State with nine receptions for 71 yards. Senior placekicker Dominik Eberle ended his stellar Utah State career by kicking a pair of field goals from 41 and 45 yards, respectively, and making all five of his extra points. The Aggies finished with 506 yards of total offense, while the Golden Flashes produced 550 total yards. Two players finished with double-digit tackles for Utah State, led by a career-high 14 stops from junior safety Troy Lefeged Jr., while redshirt freshman defensive end Elijah Shelton had a career-high 10 tackles. Lefeged also forced a fumble, which was recovered by junior defensive end Nick Heninger.