USU Game Notes | Nevada Game Notes | Live Stats | Listen Live

Utah State (23-6, 13-3 MW) and No. 12 Nevada (26-2, 13-2 MW) will meet on Saturday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m., in what will be a battle for first place in the Mountain West standings.

Opening Tips
• Fans can watch the game on the CBS Sports Network (DirecTV 221, Dish 158) with Carter Blackburn providing the play-by-play, Pete Gillen as the analyst and Evan Washburn as the sideline reporter.

• Utah State is one of only three teams in the nation ranked in the top 35 of the NET rankings with a top-25 non-conference schedule with 10 wins away from home, joining Duke and North Carolina.

• Utah State's 23 victories this season are the most for the Aggies since the 2010-11 season, when USU finished with a school-record 30-4 mark. The 23 wins are tied for the 12th-most in school history and make up the 29th season with 20 or more victories for the Aggies.

• Utah State has won 20 or more games in a season 15 times since the turn of the millennium, including 14 straight from 2000-13.

• Utah State's 13 league victories are the most for the Aggies since joining the Mountain West and the most since USU went 15-1 in the Western Athletic Conference during the 2010-11 season. Overall the 13 league wins are tied for seventh-most in school history.

• Utah State head coach Craig Smith has won more games than any other first-year head coach in school history, passing the previous school record of 22 games set by Ladell Andersen during the 1961-62 season. In addition, Smith has the best winning percentage and the most wins for any first-year head coach in the country this season.

• Freshman center Neemias Queta has rewritten the single-season block record at Utah State with his 72 blocks this season, shattering the previous single-season record of 59. The mark is tied for the first in the nation for a freshman this season (Osun Osunniyi, St. Bonaventure). Queta also recorded a MW freshman-record six blocks against Fresno State on Jan. 9.

Scouting Nevada
Nevada is 26-2 overall and 13-2 in league play this season. The Wolf Pack has won each of the its last two games and 12 of its last 13.

Nevada is averaging 81.5 points per game and shooting 46.8 percent (774-of-1,654) from the floor, 35.0 percent (249-of-712) from behind the 3-point line and 72.4 percent (485-of-670) at the free throw line. Senior forward Caleb Martin leads four players in double figures, averaging 19.4 points per game, followed by senior forward Jordan Caroline with 18.4, senior forward Cody Martin with 11.2 and junior guard Jazz Johnson with 10.8 points per game. Caroline paces the Wolf Pack on the glass with 9.6 rebounds per game, while Cody Martin leads Nevada in assists, averaging 5.3 helpers per game.

Defensively, Nevada opponents are averaging 66.2 points per game and shooting 40.4 percent (672-of-1,664) from the floor, 31.9 percent (217-of-680) from behind the 3-point line and 66.8 percent (290-of-434) at the free throw line. Caleb Martin leads the Wolf Pack with 1.4 steals per game and is tied for the team lead with senior forward Trey Porter with 0.8 blocks per game.

Net Ranking Road Warriors
Utah State is currently ranked No. 34 in the latest NCAA NET Rankings and has more road victories than all but seven teams ranked above them.

On the Gridiron and on the Hardwood
Utah State is one of only two teams in the nation this year with an 11-win football team and a 20-win men's basketball team (Cincinnati).

KenPom Performers
Utah State is the only team this season and one of only four teams in the KenPom era (2002-present) to rank in the top-5 in both defensive rebound percentage and opponent 2-point percentage. (Virginia, 2015; Bucknell, 2013; Washington State, 2009).

The Utah State/Nevada Series - Did you know?
• Utah State leads the all-time series 35-23, although Nevada has won each of the last five games and seven of the last eight.

• Utah State is 16-101 all-time against foes ranked in the AP top-25 and has lost each of the last 16 games against ranked opponents.

• Utah State's last victory against a ranked foe came against Nevada when the Aggies beat the No. 10 Wolf Pack 79-77 in overtime during the final week of the 2006-07 season. The Aggies posted another 79-77 victory a week later against Nevada in the WAC Tournament.

• Utah State and Nevada make up the top two scoring offenses in the Mountain West this season as the Wolf Pack average 81.5 points per game (first) and the Aggies average 78.3 points per game (second).

• The teams also make up the top-two scoring defenses in the league as the Aggies allow 65.5 points per game (first) and the Wolf Pack allow 66.2 points per game (second).

• The teams are first and second in the Mountain West in defensive field goal percentage, as Utah State opponents have shot 38.9 percent (first), while Nevada opponents have shot 40.4 percent (second).

• The team that has led at the half has gone on to win nine if the last 11 contests. 

• Utah State has outscored the Wolf Pack in the second half in seven of the last 11 games.