LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Utah State is returning to the Mountain West Championship game. The top-seeded Aggies used a suffocating defensive effort for the second straight outing to post a 79-66 win against fifth-seeded Nevada here inside the Thomas & Mack Center Friday night.
With the victory, Utah State (27-6) will be seeking to win its third MW postseason championship and its 11th postseason tournament title all-time.
Freshman wing Adlan Elamin led five double-digit scorers for Utah State with 15 points to go along with six rebounds. Graduate guard Drake Allen stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals. Senior guard MJ Collins Jr. added 12 points and a season-best seven rebounds, and junior guard Mason Falslev finished with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Junior wing Karson Templin had 11 points.
Utah State's defense forced 15 Nevada turnovers and held the Wolf Pack to 5-of-19 (.263) shooting from 3-point range as the Aggies had a 22-14 advantage in points off turnovers in the game.
For the game, Utah State shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53), including 21.1 percent (4-of-19) from 3-point range, and was 27-of-35 (.771) at the free throw line. Nevada shot 40.7 percent (24-of-59) and was 13-of-20 (.650) at the free throw line.
Vaughn Weems led Nevada with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Utah State scored the first four points of the game and built an early 11-5 advantage before Nevada answered with a 7-0 run to take its first lead at 12-11 with 10:51 to play. USU used a 10-2 run over the next 2:35 to take a 23-16 lead and held its largest lead of the first half at 27-19 with 6:05 remaining. The Wolf Pack got back within three points at 31-28, but the Aggies pushed its advantage back to seven following a late basket from Templin to give the top seed a 39-32 lead at the half.
Utah State shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) despite making just 2-of-11 (.182) 3-pointers in the first half but was 9-of-13 (.692) at the free throw line. Nevada shot 36.1 percent (13-of-36), including 2-of-8 (.250) from behind the arc, and was 4-of-5 (.800 at the free throw line.
Templin led the Aggies with nine first half points, while Elamin scored eight points.
Utah State put the game away early in the second half as it scored the first six points and outscored Nevada 19-5 over the first 9:24 to take its largest lead of the contest at 58-37. The Wolf Pack made a late push and cut the deficit to 11 at 69-58 at the 3:25 mark but could get no closer as the Aggies notched the 13-point win.
NEXT UP
Utah State advances to Saturday's championship game and will face either second-seeded San Diego State or third-seeded New Mexico at 4 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised live on CBS.
FOLLOW ALONG
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.