WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - DECEMBER 20, 2021
Weekly Aggie Update
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Tues., Dec. 21 --- PORTLAND STATE, 7 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State men's basketball (8-4, 0-0 MW) closes out its non-conference slate by hosting Portland State (3-6) on Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. USU leads the all-time series against the Vikings 3-2, including a 2-0 home record. Fans can watch the game via the Mountain West Network, streaming online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
W, 95-80 --- at Weber State
L, 75-94 --- vs. Iowa (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
• Utah State posted a 1-1 record last week with a 95-80 victory at Weber State and a 94-75 loss against Iowa in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Against the Wildcats, sophomore guard Steven Ashworth scored a career-high 27 points off the bench and was joined in double figures by graduate forward Brandon Horvath and senior guard Brock Miller with 20 points apiece. Senior guard RJ Eytle-Rock also scored in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Horvath logged his first double-double of the season with a season-high 14 rebounds as USU shot 52.2 percent (26-of-69) from the floor, 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from behind the 3-point line and 100.0 percent (8-of-8) at the free throw line. WSU shot 45.2 percent (28-of-62) from the floor, 36.0 percent (9-of-25) from behind the 3-point line and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) at the charity stripe. Against the Hawkeyes, Horvath led USU in scoring with 18 points and was followed by senior forward Justin Bean with 17 points. USU shot 49.0 percent (25-of-51) from the floor, 34.8 percent (8-of-23) from behind the 3-point line and 70.8 percent (17-of-24) at the free throw line. Iowa shot 54.7 percent (35-of-64) from the floor, 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from behind the 3-point line and 76.2 percent (16-of-21) at the free throw line.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Mon., Dec. 20 --- at Montana, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Utah State women's basketball (5-4, 0-0 MW) continues its 2021-22 season on Monday, Dec. 20, with a road game at Montana (8-2) at 6 p.m. USU is 4-8 all-time against the Grizzlies, including 1-5 road record. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+.
Last Competition
W, 66-65 --- ARKANSAS STATE
L, 55-81 --- at Ball State
• Utah State opened the week with a 66-65 home win against Arkansas State before an 81-55 loss at Ball State. In the win against the Red Wolves, Utah State played without a bench for the final 22 minutes of the game. With USU trailing by five, 63-58, senior guard Kaylin Randhawa scored the Aggies' final eight points of the game, including the game-winning 3-pointer, to seal the 66-65 victory. Junior guard/forward Adyrana Quezada led the team with her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 boards, to go along with a career-high-tying five assists. Three other Aggies finished in double figures as Randhawa had 15 points, junior guard Shyla Latone had 11, all of which came in the first half, and sophomore guard Olivia Wikstrom had 10. USU ended the night shooting 33.8 percent (22-of-65) from the field, 23.5 percent (8-of-34) from behind the 3-point line and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) at the free throw line. ASU shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) from the field, 32.0 percent (8-of-25) from behind the arc and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) at the charity stripe. In the loss to the Cardinals, Quezada led the Aggies with her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Latone also finished in double figures with 12 points. USU finished the day shooting 35.0 percent (21-of-60) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from behind the arc and 88.9 percent (8-of-9) at the free throw line. Ball State shot 43.3 percent (29-of-67) from the floor, 43.2 (16-of-37) from behind the 3-point line and 100.0 percent (7-of-7) at the charity stripe.
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
Last Week
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, Inglewood, California
W, 24-13 --- vs. Oregon State
• Utah State football (11-3, 6-2 MW) concluded one of its best seasons in school history with a 24-13 win against Oregon State (7-6, 5-4 Pac 12) in the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. USU finished the game with 383 yards of total offense (273 passing, 110 rushing) as compared to 415 yards for OSU (263 passing, 152 rushing). Sophomore quarterback Cooper Legas came off the bench to throw a pair of touchdown passes as he finished the game 11-of-20 passing for 171 yards. Graduate junior running back Calvin Tyler Jr. ran for 120 yards against his former team. He scored what ended up being the go-ahead touchdown on a 15-yard run with 4:24 remaining in the second quarter to give the Aggies a 14-10 lead. Legas came in when graduate junior quarterback Logan Bonner suffered a knee injury during the first quarter. On Legas' very first play, he connected with senior wide receiver Deven Thompkins on a 62-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-apiece. Thompkins, named the game's Offensive MVP, finished with six receptions for 115 yards and set a single-season school record with 102 catches. Legas also threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to graduate senior wide receiver Brandon Bowling to give the Aggies a 24-13 lead late in the third quarter. Legas also had a 34-yard reception on a double pass from senior wide receiver Derek Wright. Nick Heninger was named the Defensive MVP as the graduate senior defensive end had seven tackles, including 3.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss, both career highs. Graduate senior inside linebacker Justin Rice led USU with nine tackles and a forced fumble in the fourth quarter. USU's defense finished the game with 4.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two turnovers as graduate junior safety Hunter Reynolds had a fourth quarter interception. Oregon State received the opening kickoff and scored 58 seconds into the game when Jesiah Irish went 20 yards up the left sideline on a jet sweep. That would prove to be the Beavers' only touchdown, though, as their other points came on a pair of field goals by Everett Hayes. The Beavers' Chance Nolan was 21-of-30 for 263 yards and an interception, while B.J. Baylor, who led the Pac-12 in rushing, had 18 carries for 78 yards. Graduate senior placekicker Connor Coles kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Utah State a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.
