by: Ashley Springer, USU Athletic Media Relations
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Utah State men's basketball (24-8) scored on each of its final eight possessions to hold off No. 7 New Mexico (19-14) for a 75-70 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Men's Basketball Championships on Thursday night inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Utah State was led by senior guards
Sam Merrill with 29 points and
Diogo Brito with 15. The Aggies are a perfect 29-0 over the last two seasons when Brito scores in double figures. Sophomore forward
Justin Bean recorded his 16th double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
Utah State committed 17 turnovers which resulted in 17 points for New Mexico. The Aggies made up for it in the paint, outscoring the Lobos 36-24 inside the key.
The Aggies took an early 20-7 lead with 12:24 to go in the first half. However, the Lobos responded with a 15-6 run to trim USU's lead to four, 26-22, with 7:46 on the clock. The teams traded baskets until New Mexico outscored Utah State 6-2 over the final three minutes of the half to tie it up at 33-33 heading into halftime.
USU pushed its lead back out to start off the second half, with free throws from junior forward
Alphonso Anderson giving Utah State the 42-36 edge with 16:53 left to play. However, the Lobos went on to limit the Aggies to four points over a seven minute period and took a 57-46 lead with 9:38 remaining.
A 3-pointer and layup from Brito pulled USU back within six, 57-51, with 8:32 to go. The Aggies tied it back up at 63-63 with 3:50 on the clock after buckets from Brito and sophomore center
Neemias Queta, and free throws from Queta and Merrill. A triple from Merrill put USU back on top at 68-65 with 2:43 left to play. The game was tied two more times before a Brito 3-pointer and a Bean layup secured the 75-70 Aggie victory.
New Mexico was led by redshirt senior guard JaQuan Lyle with 20 points.
USU shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) from the floor, 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from behind the 3-point line and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) at the free throw line. UNM shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, 25.8 percent (8-of-31) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (18-of-27) at the free throw line.
The Aggies will next take on the winner of No. 3 Nevada (19-11)/No. 11 Wyoming (8-23) in the semifinals on Friday, March 6, at 9:30 p.m. (MT).
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).