ORLANDO, Florida – A career-best scoring performance from sophomore guard Mason Falslev helped lead Utah State men's basketball (7-0, 0-0 MW) to a championship game title at the NIT Season Tip-Off Friday evening, as the Aggies defeated North Texas 61-57 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 
 
Falslev accounted for nearly half of the team's scoring output, going for 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range and 3-of-5 shooting at the free throw line. He also brought down five boards, while recording an assist and two steals. 
 
Falslev was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the team's two wins. Joining him on the all-tournament team was graduate guard Dexter Akanno, who averaged 9.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. 
 
For the second-straight game, Utah State was tasked with overcoming a slow start and a halftime deficit. 
 
After a back-and-forth start to the contest, an 8-0 run gave the Mean Green a 20-11 lead midway through the first half. The Aggies clawed back, however, scoring 12 of the game's next 17 points to close the gap to just 25-23 at the half. Both sides struggled to find a shooting rhythm early, USU shooting just 35 percent and North Texas shooting just 32 percent through the first 20 minutes. 
 
The teams exchanged baskets early in the second half, before three-straight USU possessions resulting in made baskets by Falslev gave the Aggies their first lead since 3-2. They would go on to stretch that lead to as many as six points before the Mean Green fought back. North Texas regained the lead momentarily, but for the final seven minutes of the game it was Utah State in front. 
 
The Aggie defense forced eight misses on the final 12 North Texas shots, while taking care of business on the other end of the court and earning their way to the charity stripe down the stretch. USU reached the bonus with 9:43 remaining in the second half and earned 12 free throws from that point on, connecting on eight of them. 
 
USU won the battle on the glass, pulling down 38 rebounds to UNT's 30. Akanno was responsible for a team-best 11 boards, a new career high. 
 
Joining Falslev in double-figures was graduate guard Ian Martinez, who posted his seventh such game in as many tries this season, going for 12 points. 
 
Utah State finished the night shooting 43.5 percent (20-of-46) from the field, 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from 3-point range and 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from the charity stripe. 
 
UP NEXT
Utah State will now return home for four-straight games at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Aggies open Mountain West play next Wednesday, Dec. 4, hosting Wyoming at 7 p.m.
 
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FOLLOW
For more information on Utah State's men's basketball program, follow the Aggies on Facebook at usumensbasketball, on Twitter at @usubasketball and on Instagram at @usubasketball. Fans can also watch USU men's basketball highlights by visiting youtube.com/utahstateathletics.
 
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