USU Game Notes | AFA Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State opens Mountain West play at Air Force on Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m.

Opening Tips
• The Aggies have opened MW play at Air Force more times than any other program in league competition, having faced the Falcons in MW road openers in 2013-14, 2016-17, 2020-21 and 2021-22.

• Overall, USU is 5-3 all-time in MW openers and 4-4 in MW road openers. The Aggies have won each of their last two MW openers and MW road openers.

• Utah State opened the year with a 9-4 non-conference record, the best start for the Aggies since 2019-20. The Aggies were five points away from going 11-2 during their non-conference slate.

• Utah State is shooting 49.3 percent (373-of-757) from the floor this year, the best mark since the Aggies shot 49.6 percent (899-of-1,813) during the 2008-09 season. USU has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in seven games this season.

• The Aggies are on the cusp of shooting 50/40, averaging 49.3 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from behind the 3-point line.

• Utah State's 79.5 points per game is the most since the Aggies averaged 81.3 points per game during the 1990-91 campaign.

• Utah State has scored 80 or more points in eight of its 13 games this season and is averaging 83.3 points per game over the last five-game stretch. USU is a perfect 8-0 when scoring 80 or more points in a game.

• Utah State is 9-1 on the year when three or more players score in double figures.

• Utah State leads the nation in total assists this year with 265 and is third in the nation with 20.4 assists per game. The Aggies have recorded 20 or more assists in seven games this season and are averaging 21.8 assists per game over the last five contests.

• USU senior forward Justin Bean is the only player in the MW averaging a double-double this season (19.2/10.3) and leads the league in rebounding (10.3), double-doubles (7), offensive rebounds (3.25), defensive rebounds (7.08) and field goal percentage (.647).

• Bean is third in the nation in double-doubles (8), sixth in field goal percentage (.656), eighth in rebounds per game (10.5) and 14th in defensive rebounds per game (7.23), and just outside the top-25 in scoring (19.9, 26th) and offensive rebounds per game (3.23, 27th).

• Bean has been locked in from the floor this season as his 65.6-percent field goal shooting is fourth in a single season in school history, while his 56.7-percent clip from behind the 3-point line is currently the best in USU history in a single season.

• Junior guard Rylan Jones is 15th in the nation with 6.1 assists per game, the most by an Aggie since Kris Clark averaged 6.4 during the 2007-08 season.

• Sophomore guard Max Shulga had a breakout game in his first collegiate start in the Aggies' last contest, turning in career highs of 18 points, six field goals, eight field goal attempts, three 3-point field goals and 28 minutes, and logging season highs  of five 3-point field goal attempts, seven rebounds and two steals.