OPENING TIPS
• On March 30, 2024, Jerrod Calhoun was named the 18th head coach in Utah State men's basketball history. Calhoun joins the Aggies after spending the past seven seasons at Youngstown State, where he logged a 118-106 overall record including five-straight winning seasons and three postseason appearances. Calhoun also served as the head coach at Fairmont State for five seasons, where he led the Falcons to a 124-38 record.
• Utah State is coming off of a Mountain West championship season in 2023-24 as the Aggies went 28-7 with a 14-4 mark in league play to capture the regular season title outright. This was the second MW championship for Utah State and the 18th overall conference championship in program history.
• In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Utah State defeated TCU 88-72 in the first round to snap a 10-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament and advance to the second round for the first time since defeating Ohio State 77-68 in overtime of the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
• This year's Utah State squad includes three returning starters and four returning letterwinners from last season, who will be joined by nine newcomers (seven transfers and two incoming freshmen). Returning starters include graduate guard
Ian Martinez, junior center
Isaac Johnson and sophomore guard
Mason Falslev.
• Graduate guard
Ian Martinez earned all-Mountain West honorable mention recognition last season after averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He ranked second on the team in scoring.
• Utah State unofficially opened the 2024-25 season with an 85-66 exhibition win over Weber State on Oct. 18.
• Utah State was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West preseason poll. The Aggies have finished ahead of their projected finish in five of the past seven seasons. Graduate guard
Ian Martinez was named to the preseason all-Mountain West team.
• Wednesday's game will be the first all-time meeting between Utah State and Alcorn State. All-time against opponents from the SWAC, Utah State is 8-1.
• All-time, Utah State is 86-32 in season openers and has won 26 of its past 30.
• Utah State is 56-9 in home openers since the 1957-58 season and has won 20 of its past 22 home openers.
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