LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's basketball (14-1, 4-0 MW) opened 2025 with a win on Saturday night inside of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, using double-double performances from graduate guard Drake Allen and sophomore forward Karson Templin to earn an 89-83 victory over Fresno State. 
 
In his first extended playing time after returning from injury, Allen sparked the Aggie offense while posting the third double-double of his career and his first of the season, going for 11 points and a career-high-tying 11 assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block. Templin led the team in the scoring column with a career-high-tying 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, along with a pair of blocks. 
 
The Aggies showed a resilient effort while coming back from a 17-point first-half deficit in this one. 
 
After getting out to a slow start, the USU was tasked with playing from behind for the entire first half. Hot shooting early by the visitors put Fresno State ahead, with the Bulldogs eventually using an 11-0 run to stretch that lead all the way to 17 points at 30-13 with 10 minutes into the half. 
 
Utah State punched right back, responding with a run of its own. The Aggies out-scored Fresno State 26-12 the rest of the way in the first half to cut the deficit all the way to just three points at the break. USU went into the locker room trailing 42-39, closing the half on a 12-2 run. 
 
In the second half, USU continued to fight for its first lead of the game, trading blows with the Bulldogs before taking a 53-52 lead with just under 15 minutes to play. The Aggies led for the final 13 minutes of the contest, expanding the lead to as many as 14 points while making half of their second-half shots. 
 
Five different Utah state players scored in double figures. Joining Templin and Allen were fifth year guard Ian Martinez, who went for 16 points, sophomore guard Mason Falslev with 14 points and graduate guard Dexter Akanno with 13. 
 
Along with his 16 points, Martinez recorded six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Falslev rounded out his 14-point performance with six rebounds, two assists and four steals. 
 
The Aggies recorded 22 assists on 31 made shots. This was the sixth time this year USU has posted 20-plus assists in a game, while Allen is the first Utah State player to record 10-plus assists this year. 
 
Utah State shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the floor, 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from behind the 3-point arc and 66.7 percent (18-of-27) at the free throw line. Fresno State finished the night shooting 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the field, 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from 3-point range and 69.2 percent (18-of-26) from the free throw line.
 
UP NEXT
Utah State will now hit the road next week to take on San José State on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m. (MT). 
 
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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