Weekly Aggie Update
WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - NOVEMBER 20, 2023
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
This Week
Fri., Nov. 24 --- NEW MEXICO, 1:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State football (5-6, 3-4 MW) concludes Mountain West play this weekend at New Mexico (4-7, 2-5 MW) on Friday, Nov. 24, at 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221). USU is 16-13 all-time against the Lobos, including a 7-9 road record.
Last Week
L, 10-45 --- BOISE STATE
• Utah State scored the first 10 points of the game, but never found paydirt again, as Boise State rolled to a 45-10 Mountain West win on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium last weekend. Utah State's defense shined early as it held Boise State to just two first downs and 44 yards of total offense in the first quarter as the Broncos had to punt in each of its first four possessions. Offensively, Utah State graduate senior quarterback Cooper Legas connected with junior wide receiver Jalen Royals for a 57-yard touchdown on the first play of its third drive to give USU a 7-0 lead. Junior placekicker Elliott Nimrod added a 34-yard field goal on its next possession to push its advantage to 10 points early in the second quarter. The second quarter was one to forget for the Aggies as they turned the ball over three times, converted just one first down (on four attempts), committed two penalties (compared to zero by BSU) and allowed four sacks as Boise State scored 31 points. Royals finished with seven catches for 113 yards and the one touchdown. Legas was 8-of-12 passing for 128 yards with one touchdown, but was hurt early in the second quarter and did not return. Utah State, which turned it over four times, managed 373 yards of total offense on the night. Junior running back Davon Booth led USU in rushing with 125 yards on 12 carries. Boise State finished with 445 yards of total offense, including 352 on the ground. Defensively, the Broncos finished with 9.0 sacks as part of their 13.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore safety Devin Dye racked up a career-high 14 tackles for the Aggies. Graduate senior inside linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. had 12 stops, including 0.5 tackles for loss a, marking the seventh straight game he has notched double-digit tackles.
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
at Mountain West Championships, Las Vegas, Nevada
Thur., Nov. 23 --- vs. TBA, Semifinals, 2 p.m. (MT) (MWN)
Fri., Nov. 24 --- vs. TBA, Championship, 5 p.m. (MT) (MWN)
• Utah State volleyball (24-5, 17-1 MW) heads into the 2023 Mountain West Championship on a 14-match winning streak, the fourth-longest in school history. The Aggies are the top-seed and will play the winner of No. 4 Boise State (14-14, 10-8 MW) vs. No. 5 Fresno State (16-13, 10-8 MW) in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. (MT). The championship match will be on Friday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m. (MT). Every match of the championship will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Last Week
W, 3-1 --- at Fresno State
W, 3-0 --- at Nevada
• Utah State finished the 2023 regular season with its most conference wins in program history (17) after going 2-0 last week with a 3-1 victory at Fresno State and 3-0 win at Nevada. Against the Bulldogs, USU hit .226 (55-20-155), while FSU hit .250 (56-22-136). The Aggies were led by graduate senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch with 14 kills, senior outside Tatum Stall with 11 and junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmeodovic with 11. Sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy led the Aggies with 21 assists, followed by junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues with 18. Mehmedovic led USU with six blocks, while freshman libero Kambree Rodrigues led USU with 15 digs and Stall had 13. Against the Wolf Pack, USU hit .330 (51-18-100), while Nevada hit .065 (17-12-77). Four Aggies had double-digit kills as Capllonch had 12, Stall had 11, Mehmedovic had 11 and senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson had 10. Wilton-LaBoy led the way with 24 assists, while Rodrigues added 16. Graduate senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd led the Aggies with three blocks, while three Aggies logged nine digs apiece from Rodrigues, Rodriguez and Stall.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
at Cayman Islands Classic
Mon., Nov. 20 --- vs. Akron, 5:30 p.m. (MT) (FloHoops)
Tues., Nov. 21 --- vs. Drake/Stephen F. Austin, TBA (MT) (FloHoops)
• Utah State men's basketball (3-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023-24 schedule at the Cayman Islands Classic this week. USU will first face Akron (4-0) in the semifinals on Monday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). USU will then face either Drake or Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday, Nov. 21, depending on Monday's results. Both games will be streamed on FloHoops.
Last Week
W, 93-84 --- SOUTHERN UTAH
W, 83-60 --- vs. Marshall, Cayman Islands Classic
• Utah State went 2-0 last week with a 93-84 home win against Southern Utah and 83-60 victory over Marshall in the first round of the Cayman Islands Classic. Against the Thunderbirds, USU shot 63.5 percent (33-of-52) from the field, 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from deep and 65.6 percent (21-of-32) at the free throw line, while SUU shot 50.8 percent (32-of-63) from the floor, 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from behind the arc and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) at the free throw line. Junior wing Great Osobor scored a career-high 31 points and added 10 rebounds, while graduate senior guard Darius Brown II had 22 points, junior guard Josh Uduje had 14 and redshirt freshman guard Mason Falslev had 11. Against The Herd, USU shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the field, 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from behind the 3-point line and 67.9 percent (19-of-28) at the free throw line, while Marshall shot 35.0 percent (21-of-60) from the floor, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from deep and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) at the charity stripe. Osobor again had a double-double with 18 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, while senior guard Ian Martinez had 15 points and Brown, Uduje and Falslev each had 11.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Jaden Johnson - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Wed., Nov. 22 --- at UC Riverside, 5 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
Sat., Nov. 25--- WARNER PACIFIC, 2 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State women's basketball (2-2, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023-24 campaign with a pair of games this week. The Aggies first travel to take on UC Riverside (1-3, 0-0 Big West) on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. (MT), then return home to host Warner Pacific (1-1, 0-0 CCC) on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. Both games will be streamed and be broadcast on the radio on 107.7 FM. Links to live streams and stats are available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
W, 62-60 --- at Missouri-Kansas City
W, 72-62 --- WEBER STATE
• Utah State posted a 2-0 record last week with a 62-60 win at Kansas City and a 72-62 home win over Weber State. Against the Roos, junior guard Cheyenne Stubbs led USU with 19 points, including the game-winning layup at the buzzer, while junior guard Ivory Finley added 17 points and three boards. USU shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the field, 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from the free throw line and 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from behind the 3-point arc. Kansas City shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, 68.4 percent (13-of-19) at the charity stripe and 27.8 (5-of-18) from 3-point range. And against the Wildcats, Stubbs once again led USU with 18 points, while adding four rebounds, two assists and four steals. Fellow junior guard Skye Miller had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists. USU shot 58.1 percent (25-of-43), including 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range, and shot 77.8 percent (14-of-18) at the free throw line. Weber State shot 36.4 percent (20-of-55), including 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from deep, and made 77.8 percent (14-of-18) of its free throws.
