USU Game Notes | SDSU Game Notes | Live Stats | Listen Live

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball (9-3, 6-0 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of home games against San Diego State (10-2, 3-1 MW) on Thursday, Jan. 14, and Saturday, Jan. 16. Thursday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network  (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD), DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) and begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday's game will be televised on CBS and begin at 11:30 a.m. USU is 6-13 all-time against the Aztecs, including a 2-4 home record.

Opening tips
• Utah State is undefeated in Mountain West play for the first time in school history, and is off to its best start in league play since the 2010-11 season, when the Aggies opened their WAC season 11-0.

• Utah State is 33-9 in MW play under head coach Craig Smith and is 3-3 against the Aztecs during Smith's tenure Overall, SDSU leads the all-time series 13-6, including a 4-2 advantage in games played in Logan.

• The series with Utah State and San Diego State pits the top two defensive teams in the Mountain West as the Aggies allow a league-leading 60.5 points per game, while the Aztecs are second in the MW, allowing 60.7 points per game.

• The teams are also first and second in defensive field goal percentage, as USU foes are shooting a MW-leading 38.0 percent from the floor, while the Aztecs are second, as SDSU opponents are shooting 39.1 percent.

• Utah State is out to a roaring start in league play, outscoring opponents by 33.3 points per game and leading the Mountain West on both ends of the court. The Aggies rank first in league games in scoring defense (51.0), scoring margin (33.3), field goal percentage defense (.323), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.248), rebounds per game (46.17), rebounding margin (17.0), blocks (6.67), assists (20.17), steals (7.33) and turnover margin (3.83). USU is a close second in scoring offense (84.33), field goal percentage (.501) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.49).

• Utah State's bench has been a large part of the Aggies' success in league play, averaging 31.7 points per game and shooting 43.9 percent (68-of-155) from the floor and 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from behind the arc. USU reserves averaged just 14.3 points per game and shot 36.1 percent (26-of-72) from the floor and 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from three during the Aggies' six non-conference games.

• Utah State has owned the glass this season, outrebounding every opponent this year and carrying a rebounding margin of plus-12.8 to rank second in the nation. The Aggies have pulled down double-digit offensive boards in all but two games this season.

• Utah State is No. 9 in the nation with a defensive rebounding percentage of 80.5 and rank No. 13 with an offensive rebounding percentage of 36.7.

• Redshirt junior guard Marco Anthony, junior forward Justin Bean and junior center Neemias Queta are the only set of teammates in the Mountain West each averaging more than 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

• Queta leads the Aggies this season in rebounds (8.8), assists (3.2), steals (1.3) and blocks (2.8) and is the only player in the country that has totaled more than 30 blocks and 30 assists.

• Queta is one of only three players in the nation over the last 25 years to average more than 11 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game, joining Tim Duncan (Wake Forest, 1996-97) and Dominic McGuire (Fresno State, 2006-07).

• Queta is tied for seventh in the nation with 34 total blocks, which is as much or more than 207 other teams in the nation.

Fabulous Freshman
Freshman guard Rollie Worster has logged as many starts as any true freshman in the country this season.

Fabulous Frontcourt
The duo of juniors Justin Bean and Neemias Queta make up one of the best frontcourts in America. In addition to each averaging a near double-double - Queta 12.3 pts/8.8 reb, Bean 11.6 pts, 7.9 rebs - they have a combined assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.0 with 60 total assists to just 30 turnovers.

Could Have Won with Boards
• In its last contest against New Mexico, Utah State recorded more rebounds (53) than the Lobos logged points (46).

• In the same game, junior forward Justin Bean had more offensive rebounds individually (8) than the entire UNM roster (6).

Going Streaking
• Utah State's eight-game winning streak is the second longest for the Aggies during head coach Craig Smith's tenure. USU posted a 10-game winning streak during the 2018-19 season.

• During its recent eight-game winning streak, USU is averaging 82.4 points per game and shooting 49.3 percent (253-of-513) from the floor and 35.9 percent (56-of-156) from behind the 3-point line. Utah State's opponents are averaging 52.5 points per game and shooting 33.9 percent (149-of-439) from the floor and 27.0 percent (48-of-178) from behind the arc.

• USU is also dominating the glass, pulling down 44.6 rebounds per game to the oppositions' 28.6 rebounds per game. The Aggies have also moved the ball extremely well, averaging 19.0 assists per game.

Scoring Balance
Utah State is one of only four teams in the nation averaging more than 75 points per game without an individual player averaging more than 13.0 points per game (UC Irvine, Tennessee, UCLA).