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LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball (13-4, 2-2 MW) continues its 2019-20 MW slate, traveling to face Air Force (7-8, 1-2 MW) in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The teams will tip at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 (DirecTV ch. 209, Dish ch. 143, Comcast ch. 36).

Opening Tips
• Utah State enters the game having lost its first back-to-back games in 54 games.

• Utah State has excelled on Tuesday games under head coach Craig Smith, as the Aggies are 3-0 this season and 8-0 under Smith on Tuesdays.

• Utah State's magic number has been 70 over the last two season as the Aggies are 28-3 when holding teams to less than 70 points, including a perfect 17-0 mark when holding teams to less than 60 points.

• The Aggies are 36-4 over the last two season when scoring 70 or more points in a game.

• Utah State leads the nation with 299 makes at the free throw line this season, while opponents have only attempted a total of 246 free throws.

• As of Jan. 5, Utah State is among the Top-10 in the nation in five different statistics. The Aggies lead the nation in free throws made (299), rank second in total rebounds (713), third in both total assists (285) and free throw attempts (391), and ninth in defensive rebounds per game (30.12).

• Utah State is also among the Top-25 in five other statistics, including rebound margin (9.6, 11th), total rebounds per game (41.94, 12th), scoring margin (16.1, 15th), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.37, 15th) and free throw percentage (.765, 24th).

• Utah State is 0-3 on the year when only two players score in double figures, but is 14-1 when three or more players log double digits.

• USU senior guard Sam Merrill is 10 points away from moving to No. 6 on the all-time scoring list. Merrill moved into a tie for fifth all-time with 91 double-digit scoring outings in his career, tying former teammate Jalen Moore (2014-17).

• Merrill has scored 20 or more points in three of the last four contests and has logged double figures in eight-straight games.

• Merrill has proven to be adept at Falconry as he is shooting 52.7 percent (29-of-55) from the floor, 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from behind the 3-point line and 100.0 percent (13-of-13) against Air Force during his career.

• Sophomore forward Justin Bean, a former walk-on, leads the Mountain West in rebounding with 11.0 boards per contest, logging a double-double in each of the Aggies' opening three MW contests. Bean is fourth in the nation with 10 double-doubles on the year.

• Bean is second in the nation with 187 total rebounds this year, fourth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (4.29) and 11th in the nation in total rebounds per game (11.0).

• Utah State has had a player log a double-double in each of its opening four MW games this season, as Bean recorded double-doubles in each of the first three games, while sophomore center Neemias Queta finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds against San Diego State.

• With his three blocks against the Aztecs, Queta moved to No. 5 all-time in Utah State history with 90 career blocks, tying Nate Harris (2003-06).

• Senior guard Diogo Brito logged his 100th career steal in Utah State's 77-68 defeat against San Diego State.

• Brito had one of the best games of his career against Air Force in the last contest between the two schools, logging 11 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks.

The Utah State/Air Force Series
• Utah State leads the all-time series against Air Force, 18-5, and has won four of the last five and eight of the last 10.

• Utah State is averaging more than 10 3-point baskets per game against Air Force since joining the Mountain West, including a series-best 14 3-point baskets on March 1, 2016. The Aggies have hit 10 or more 3-point baskets against the Falcons in each of the last three games and in six of the last seven.

• Utah State has had at least one player make at least five threes in six of the last nine games. Chris Smith was 5-of-7 on March 1, 2016 and 6-of-7 on Jan. 17, 2015, and Julion Pearre was 5-of-9 on Feb. 28, 2015. Jalen Moore hit five 3-point shots against Air Force in both games during the 2016-17 season. Senior guard Sam Merrill and sophomore guard Brock Miller has also hit 5 3-point baskets against the Falcons during their careers.

• Utah State has won the battle of the boards in each of the last nine games.

• Utah State has had one player hit the 20-point mark in eight of the last 10 games against Air Force. Jalen Moore did it four times, while Julion Pearre did it once. Chris Smith eclipsed the 20-point mark, scoring 23 and 20 against the Falcons in two games during his career. Koby McEwen led the Aggies with 22 points against AFA on Dec. 31, 2016, and then recorded 20 points against the Falcons on Jan. 24, 2018. Senior guard Sam Merrill has recorded a pair of 20-point games against the Falcons, including a team-best 21 points in the last contest between the two teams on Feb. 16, 2019.

• Utah State has recorded double-digit victories in eight of the last 10 games against the Falcons.