LOGAN, Utah - Utah State graduate senior guard Darius Brown II has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, March 3. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
With its sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Brown, a native of Pasadena, California, helped Utah State to a 2-0 Mountain West record last week with a 77-73 overtime win at Fresno State and 72-60 home victory against Air Force.
 
Against the Bulldogs, Brown logged a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while adding six assists and a block. In the game, Brown made the 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime and made another 3-pointer in the final minute to break a tie and give USU the win.
 
Against the Falcons, he had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
For the week, Brown averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assist, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the field, 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from deep and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) at the free throw line.
 
The Aggies next visit San José State on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be nationally broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
 
Season tickets for the 2023-24 men's basketball season are on sale and can be purchased by visiting www.utahstateaggies.com or by calling the Utah State ticket office at 1-888-USTATE-1.


Utah State men's basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men's basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Senior forward Allyzee Verdan (Cayenne, French Guiana) had a career-high-tying 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds, to go along with one steal, in Utah State's 85-46 Mountain West loss at Air Force last week. Verdan was 4-of-8 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 at the free throw line against the Falcons.
 
GYMNASTICS – Graduate Alivia Ostendorf (Ramsey, Minnesota) won the vault title with a 9.850 and tied for fourth on floor with a 9.850 in Utah State's third-place finish at the Air Force Tri Meet with a 195.300. Ostendorf also placed 14th on balance beam with a 9.650.  
 
MEN'S TENNIS – Fifth-year senior Bodin Zarkovic (Belgrade, Serbia) posted a combined 2-2 record last week as he helped Utah State to a 1-1 record with a 4-3 neutral court win against UT Arlington and a 7-0 loss at UTSA. Against the Mavericks, Zarkovic posted a three-sets win at No. 2 singles (4-6, 7-6 (11), 6-4) and teamed with freshman Stefan Vedovelli for a 6-1 win at the second doubles position. And against the Roadrunners. Zarkovic lost in straight sets at No. 1 singles (6-4, 6-3) and teamed with Vedovelli for a 6-3 loss at the second doubles position.
 
SOFTBALL – Sophomore catcher Grace Matej (Orangevale, California) helped Utah State to a 2-2 record last weekend at the Capital Classic in California as it posted wins over UC Davis (W, 3-2) and UC Santa Barbara (W, 7-3), while going 0-2 vs Sacramento State (L, 9-1 (6); L, 2-1). Matej began the tournament by going 1-for-3 with the go-ahead home run to secure the win over UC Davis. She then went 0-for-3 in the first game against Sacramento State and 1-for-3 with an RBI in the second. In the win over UC Santa Barbara, she went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three RBIs and a scored run. For the week, Matej hit .333 (4-of-12) with four hits and two home runs, and was responsible for three runs and five RBIs. She posted a .833 slugging percentage and a .333 on base percentage. In the field, Matej totaled 17 putouts and four assists.
 
2023-24 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 28 – Shelby Capllonch, Volleyball
Sept. 4 – Adna Mehmedovic, Volleyball
Sept. 11 – Jaiden Francois, Football
Sept. 18 – Diera Walton, Soccer
Sept. 25 – Shelby Capllonch, Volleyball
Oct. 2 – Bodin Zarkovic, Men's Tennis
Oct. 9 – Cooper Legas, Football
Oct. 16 – Tatum Stall, Volleyball
Oct. 23 – Bodin Zarkovic, Men's Tennis
Oct. 30 – Julio Arronte Sanchez, Golf
Nov. 6 – Whitney Lopez, Soccer
Nov. 13 – Tatum Stall, Volleyball
Nov. 20 – Cheyenne Stubbs, Women's Basketball
Nov. 27 – Levi Williams, Football
Dec. 4 – Great Osobor, Men's Basketball
Dec. 11 – Mason Falslev, Men's Basketball
Dec. 18 – Ian Martinez, Men's Basketball
Dec. 26 – Darius Brown II, Men's Basketball
Jan. 8 – Great Osobor, Men's Basketball
Jan. 16 – Great Osobor, Men's Basketball
Jan. 22 – Logan Hammer, Men's Track & Field
Jan. 29 – Landon Bott, Men's Track & Field
Feb. 5 – Logan Hammer, Men's Track & Field
Feb. 12 – Mason Falslev, Men's Basketball
Feb. 19 – Ariel Fifita, Softball
Feb. 26 – Brennan Benson, Men's Track & Field
March 4 – Darius Brown II, Men's Basketball
 
-USU-