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LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball (16-7, 13-4 MW) hosts Wyoming (12-9, 6-8 MW) in its 2021 home finale on Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. (MT) on FS1 (Xfinity Ch. 265/HD691, DirecTV Ch. 219, DISH Ch. 150).

Opening Tips
• Utah State is 40-13 in Mountain West play under head coach Craig Smith and is 5-0 against Wyoming during his tenure. Overall, Wyoming leads the all-time series 50-32, but USU has won each of the last five and leads 21-17 in games played in Logan.

• Junior center Neemias Queta is one of just six players since the 1992-93 season to average more than 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game, joining the likes of Tim Duncan ('95-96, '96-97), Chris Webber ('92-93) and Bo Outlaw ('92-93). The last player to have that stat line was Jason Thompson from Rider during the 2007-08 season.

• Queta is the only player in the nation with 65 or more assists and 65 or more blocks. Queta leads the Mountain West in field goal percentage (.565), 2-point field goals (134), defensive rebounds (157), total rebounds (224), blocks (66), blocks per game (2.9), player efficiency rating (31.2), defensive rebound percentage (27.3), total rebound percentage (19.5), block percentage (12.4), defensive rating (81.4), defensive win shares (2.2), win shares per 40 minutes (.271), defensive box plus/minus (6.2) and box plus/minus (12.0).

• Queta is one of 10 semifinalists, one of just three outside the Power 5, for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award and leads the nation in defensive win shares (2.2). Queta is second in the nation in defensive box plus/minus (6.2) and third in overall defensive rating (81.4). Queta's 66 total blocks this season ranks fourth in the nation, while his averaging of 2.87 per game ranks eighth.

• Over the course of his career, Queta has a school-record 188 total blocks, including 128 rejections in league play, second all-time in Mountain West history. Queta is 10 blocks shy of the all-time MW record held by San Diego State's Skylar Spencer of 138 set during league games from 2012-16.

• Queta and junior forward Justin Bean have each logged a double-double in each of the last four and two games, respectively. During that stretch, Queta is averaging 26.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Over the last two games, Bean is averaging 18.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.

• Since being inserted into the starting lineup, senior forward Alphonso Anderson has scored in double figures in each of the last two games, turning in 10 and 12 points, respectively.

• Utah State has outrebounded every opponent this season and is 68-15 under Smith when winning the battle of the boards. The Aggies lead the nation with a rebounding margin of 10.9.

• As dominant as the Utah State frontcourt has been this year, the Aggies' backcourt has been equally as important with USU carrying a perfect 14-0 record when the starting backcourt outscores its counterparts. Utah State is also a perfect 14-0 when shooting better from behind the arc than its opponent.

• Utah State has had 10 different players lead the team in steals during a game this season.

The Utah State-Wyoming Series
• Utah State and Wyoming will play for the 83rd time on Wednesday, marking the seventh-longest series in USU history.

• Wyoming leads the all-time series against the Aggies, 50-32, making it one of just three teams in the MW that has a series advantage over Utah State (San Diego State, UNLV). Most of the Cowboy victories (36) came prior to the 1959-60 season. Since that time, Utah State leads the all-time series 15-14 and has won each of the last five.

• The five-game winning streak is the longest for Utah State in series history.

• Points in the paint have proven to be critical as the team that has scored more inside has won the game 13 of the last 15 times.

• Points off turnovers have also been important, as the team that has recorded more points off turnovers has won 10 of the last 15 meetings.

• Utah State has had at least three players score in double figures in all but three games against Wyoming during the MW era.

• Utah State has swept the Cowboys each of the last two seasons. Prior to the back-to-back sweeps, the Aggies last took both games against the Cowboys during the 1961-62 season.

• Utah State set several MW series records in the last meeting between the two teams in the semifinals of the 2020 MW Tournament, including individual points (27, Sam Merrill), team points (89), field goal percentage (.560), total free throws (25-of-40), individual assists (7, Sam Merrill) and individual blocks (5, Neemias Queta).

• USU junior center Neemias Queta is averaging a near-double-double in his career against Wyoming, turning in 13.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Queta is also averaging 2.4 blocks and 1.8 assists per game against the Cowboys over the course of his career.