Weekly Aggie Update
WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - NOVEMBER 27, 2023
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
Next Competition
TBA
• Utah State football (6-6, 4-4 MW) will play in its 11th bowl game in the past 13 seasons and 17th bowl in school history. All bowl matchups will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 3.
Last Week
W, 44-41 (2 OT) --- at New Mexico
• Graduate junior quarterback Levi Williams accounted for 351 yards of offense and five touchdowns in Utah State's 44-41 double overtime win at New Mexico. For Williams, it was his first start in two years with USU. With the win, Utah State became bowl eligible for the third-consecutive season under head coach Blake Anderson. Williams' final touchdown of the night proved to be the game-winner. After initially fumbling the snap, he scooped up the ball, rolled to his left and ran into the end zone from 13 yards out to end the game. Williams also scored on a 6-yard run in the first overtime. Williams was 16-of-27 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 153 yards and three more scores on 25 carries. All of his stats are career highs during his two-year USU career, while his 25 rushes are a collegiate career-high. Both of Williams' touchdown passes were in the first quarter to junior wide receiver Jalen Royals. Royals first score came on a 13-yard pass to finish off a 10-play, 75-yard drive for the Aggies to start the game. Royals also hauled in a 57-yard pass on USU's second series. Royals finished the game with seven receptions for 89 yards and became just the 13th player in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Royals also tied the school record for receiving touchdowns in a season with 14, a mark that was set by Tracy Jenkins in 1990. USU finished the game with 500 yards of offense (302 rushing, 198 passing). New Mexico had 539 yards, including 337 on the ground. Junior running back Rahsul Faison rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries and scored on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to give USU a 31-21 lead with 5:30 to play. However, the Lobos scored the final 10 points of regulation to send the game into overtime. Graduate senior inside linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. led the Aggies with 11 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. It was his eighth-straight double-digit tackle outing, which is the longest streak by an Aggie since 1999. Sophomore safety Ike Larsen also had 11 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. Senior defensive tackle Hale Motu'apuaka had three tackles, including a career-high-tying 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. One of the biggest plays of the game came courtesy of Motu'apuaka. With New Mexico on the doorstep of scoring a touchdown in the second overtime, Motu'apuaka recorded a tackle for loss on third-and-goal from the 1, forcing the Lobos into a field goal.
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
2023 NCAA Tournament, Omaha, Nebraska
Fri., Dec. 1 --- vs. Minnesota, 3 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
Sat., Dec. 2 --- vs. Creighton/Colgate, 5:30 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
• No. 6-seeded Utah State volleyball (24-6, 17-1 MW) will make its sixth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, including its first at-large berth, when it faces Minnesota (16-12, 12-8 Big Ten) on Friday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m. (MT), in Omaha, Nebraska. If the Aggies win, they will face the winner of No. 3 Creighton vs. Colgate on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). Both matches will be televised on ESPN+. USU is 4-2 all-time against Minnesota, and 1-0 all-time against Colgate. USU has never faced Creighton.
Last Week
at Mountain West Championships, Las Vegas, Nevada
L, 1-3 --- vs. #5 Fresno State
• Top-seeded Utah State lost to fifth-seeded Fresno State 3-1 in the semifinals of the 2023 Mountain West Championships. FSU went on to win the MW Championship. Overall, USU hit .191 (48-23-131), while Fresno State hit .287 (55-of-18-129). Senior outside hitter Tatum Stall and junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic led the Aggies with 14 kills apiece. Stall recorded her seventh double-double of the season after finishing the match with 11 digs. Sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy led the way with 22 assists, while junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues logged 16 assists and match-best four service aces. Defensively, two more Aggies logged double-digit digs in graduate senior outside Shelby Capllonch with 13 and freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez with 11. Senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson recorded a team-high five blocks.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Tues., Nov. 28 --- at Saint Louis, 6 p.m. (MT) (ESPN+)
Sat., Dec. 2 --- UC IRVINE, 7 p.m. (KMYU/MWN)
• Utah State men's basketball (5-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023-24 non-conference schedule this week as the Aggies play at Saint Louis (5-2, 0-0 A-10) on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m. (MT), in a game broadcast on ESPN+. USU then hosts UC Irvine (6-1, 0-0 Big West) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., in a game broadcast on KMYU and the Mountain West Network. USU has never faced Saint Louis and is 34-28 all-time against UC Irvine, including an 18-11 home record.
Last Week
at Cayman Islands Classic
W, 65-62 --- vs. Akron
W, 79-49 --- vs. Stephen F. Austin
• Utah State won the Cayman Islands Classic last week, winning the final two games against Akron (65-62) and Stephen F. Austin (79-49). Against the Zips, USU shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) from the field, including 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from deep, and converted 66.7 percent (10-of-15) of its free throws. Akron shot hot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the field, including 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from downtown, and made 85.0 percent (17-of-20) of its free throws. Junior wing Great Osobor put in his third-straight double-double performance for the Aggies with 24 points, 11 rebounds and a block to lead Utah State. Against the Lumberjacks, USU shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61), including 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from 3-point range, and made 58.3 percent (7-of-12) of its free throws. SFA shot 33.9 percent (19-of-56) from the field, including 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from deep, and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the charity stripe. The Aggies were led by redshirt freshman guard Mason Falslev with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. It was a balanced attack offensively for USU with eight Aggies scoring including Osobor (14 points), senior guard Ian Martinez (13 points), graduate guard Darius Brown II (11 points) and Falslev putting up double-digits. Redshirt sophomore center Isaac Johnson and freshman forward Karson Templin each added eight points. Brown orchestrated the offensive attack, picking up a double-double on a pass to Martinez for an alley-oop dunk for his 10th assist.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Contact: Jaden Johnson - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Wed., Nov. 29 --- IDAHO, 11 a.m. (MWN)
• Utah State women's basketball (3-3, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023-24 campaign with a single game this week as it hosts Idaho (3-2, 0-0 Big Sky) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. The game will be streamed and be broadcast on the radio on 107.7 FM. Links to live stream and stats are available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
L, 51-52 --- at UC Riverside
W, 66-54 --- WARNER PACIFIC
• Utah State posted a 1-1 record last week with a 52-51 loss at UC Riverside, followed by a 66-54 home win over Warner Pacific. Against the Highlanders, junior guard Cheyenne Stubbs led USU with 15 points and was joined in double-figures with 10-point outings from junior guard Skye Miller and junior forward Bridget Mullings. USU shot 41.3 percent (19-of-46) from the field, 12.5 percent (1-of-8) from 3-point range and 60.0 percent (12-of-20) at the free throw line. UC Riverside shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the floor, 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from 3-point range and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) at the charity stripe. Against the Knights, Stubbs once again led USU, this time with 23 points, while adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Miller had a career-high 17 points to go along with seven rebounds. USU shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56), including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from 3-point range, and shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18) at the free throw line. Warner Pacific shot 32.8 percent (20-of-61), including 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from deep, and made 66.7 percent (6-of-9) of its free throws.
