LOGAN, Utah – For the first few minutes of the 2024-25 season, it looked as if Utah State men's basketball might have an early test.
 
Then, Spectrum magic took over.
 
The Aggies blitzed Alcorn State with a 34-0 run in the first half, holding the Braves scoreless for over 12 minutes of game time to completely take control of the team's season opener. Utah State never relented, ultimately coming away with a 101-46 victory on Wednesday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
USU's 34-0 run in the first half is the second-largest unanswered run in program history, trailing only a 37-0 burst against Idaho on Feb. 15, 2006.
 
The Aggies were led by senior center Aubin Gateretse with 24 points on a perfect 11-for-11 shooting. Gateretse's 11 made field goals without a miss are the second-most in program history, trailing only Mike Santos' 12-for-12 night against Idaho State on Jan. 12, 1978. Graduate senior guard Ian Martinez and sophomore wing Tucker Anderson added 12 points apiece, while junior center Isaac Johnson also broke into double digits with 11 points.
 
Utah State nearly doubled up the Braves in rebounding, hauling in 52 boards to Alcorn State's 27. Johnson led the way with seven rebounds while Gateretse and freshman forward Isaac Davis both pulled down six boards.
 
The Aggies also recorded 28 assists with only nine turnovers while holding the Braves to only seven assists while forcing 20 turnovers. As a result, USU held a 29-6 edge in fastbreak points and outscored Alcorn State in the paint, 50-16. Sophomore guard Mason Falslev and freshman guard Jordy Barnes tied for the team lead in assists with six helpers apiece.
 
The win was USU's first 50-point win since a 101-48 win over South Dakota Mines last season, and the first over a Division-I opponent since defeating Weber State, 89-34, on Nov. 8, 2019. It is also the Aggies' first 100-point showing since winning, 108-81, against San Diego in December of 2023. The 55-point margin is tied for the ninth-largest in school history.
 
Through the first media timeout, Alcorn State battled the Aggies to earn a 10-8 lead at the 15:36 mark. From then on, however, Utah State's defense took over, forcing the Braves to go 0-for-15 from the field and forcing 10 turnovers over the next 12-and-a-half minutes. The run began with a 3-pointer from Anderson before the Aggies scored 10 straight points on layups or dunks. A pair of Martinez 3s then preceded three consecutive dunks from Gateretse, Martinez and sophomore forward Karson Templin. A second Templin dunk would later put the Aggies up by 30 in the first half en route to a 52-14 lead heading into the locker rooms.
 
The Aggies opened the second half on a 9-0 run, firmly removing any possibility of a miraculous comeback. Gateretse continued to make his mark in the second half, shooting 6-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the FT line, including three-straight buckets at the rim across a one-minute stretch midway through the period. Utah State's lead ballooned further, reaching its maximum margin of 57 points following a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Braden Housley in the final minute.
 
Utah State shot 51.4 percent from the field (37-for-72) and 38.7 percent from behind the 3-point line (12-for-31). USU also shot 83.3 percent from the FT line (15-for-18). The Aggies held Alcorn State to only 29.1 percent from the floor (16-for-55) and a 33.3 percent (7-for-21) mark from behind the arc. 
 
UP NEXT
Utah State welcomes Charlotte to the Spectrum on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m., in the second of a four-game homestand to begin the season.
 
SEASON TICKETS
Season ticket deposits for the 2024-25 season are available now. Save your seat today by clicking on the following link here.
 
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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