by: Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations
LOGAN, Utah – Senior guard
Sam Merrill scored 24 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:23 remaining in overtime, propelling No. 25 Utah State past Fresno State 77-70 on Saturday at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Justin Bean recorded his seventh double-double of the season as the sophomore forward had 14 points and a game-best 13 rebounds for the Aggies (9-1, 2-0 Mountain West), who extended their home winning streak to 13 in a row. Bean also had a game-and career-high five steals, playing the entire 45 minutes of the contest.
Fresno State's New Williams led all scorers in the game with 26 points. He sent the game into overtime tied at 61-apiece when he banked in a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded. Nate Grimes added 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who fell to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the MW.
Utah State led 59-55 with 1:43 remaining in regulation following a 3-pointer by senior guard
Diogo Brito, who finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal.
But, the Bulldogs didn't quit. Williams pulled the guests to within 59-58 with a 3-pointer of his own. Then after Brito sank a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left, Williams quieted the Spectrum crowd – momentarily – with his heroics.
Fresno State opened the scoring in overtime when Noah Blackwell hit a jumper, but the Aggies scored five straight points to take the lead for good. Bean ignited the mini run with a putback at the 3:02 mark, knotting the game at 63-apiece. Less than a minute later, Merrill gave Utah State the lead for good with his 3-ball.
Neemias Queta made his season debut for the Aggies, scoring six points, to go along with one rebound and one block in 10 minutes of action. When the sophomore center checked in for the first time with 10:17 remaining in the first half, the Utah State faithful gave him a standing ovation.
Queta missed all three of his shots from the field, but was 6-for-7 from the free throw line.
Junior guard
Abel Porter was the fourth and final Aggie to score in double figures as he had 13 points, four rebounds and one assist.
Fresno State opened its largest lead of the night at 41-33 with 13:20 remaining following a 9-0 run. Brito halted the spurt – ending a scoring drought of nearly five minutes – when he converted an old-fashioned 3-point play with 11:55 left to pull Utah State within 41-36.
The game featured 10 ties and a whopping 20 lead changes.
Utah State shot 35.0 percent from the field (21-of-60), including just 21.1 percent from 3-point range (4-of-19), and 91.2 percent from the free throw line (31-of-34). The Aggies outrebounded the Bulldogs 48-37, including an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass.
Fresno State shot 36.8 percent on the night (25-of-68), including 20.6 percent from 3-point range (7-of-34), and 86.7 percent from the charity stripe (13-of-15).
The Aggies' bench outscored the Bulldogs' reserves 18-2, and both teams scored 11 points off turnovers.
Utah State returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., when the Aggies host Saint Katherine. The Firebirds are an NAIA school out of San Marcos, Calif.
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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