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Aggies Set for NCAA Tournament Matchup with Villanova Friday

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Men's Basketball 3/18/2026 8:30:00 AM

• Utah State is playing in its 26th NCAA Tournament all-time, including for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in the past eight years (USU also qualified for the 2020 NCAA Tournament prior to it being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Since the turn of the century, USU has played in 14 NCAA Tournaments. 

• As the 9-seed in the West Region, Utah State will face 8-seed Villanova in San Diego, California, at Viejas Arena. The winner of that game will move on to face the winner of 1-seed Arizona and 16-seed LIU in the round of 32 on Sunday, March 22.

• This is the first time that the Aggies have reached four-consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

• The Aggies won both the outright Mountain West regular season title and the MW Tournament title this season. This is the team's third MW regular season title and third MW postseason title. Overall, it's the team's 19th regular season league championship and 11th tournament championship.

• USU was well represented in the MW postseason awards. Jerrod Calhoun was named the league's coach of the year, Mason Falslev earned player of the year recognition, along with a spot on the first team and all-defensive team, and Karson Templin was named the sixth man of the year. Additionally, MJ Collins Jr. was named to the all-MW second team while Drake Allen earned honorable mention recognition. 

• The Aggies have secured their fourth-straight 25-win season. Overall, this is the 14th 25-win season for the team, and first time reaching that mark in four-straight years. 

• MJ Collins Jr. and Mason Falslev have been two of the top scorers in the Mountain West, each ranking in the top seven in both scoring and shooting percentage. USU is the only team in the MW with two players averaging at least 15 points per game. 

• Mason Falslev and Drake Allen rank first and second in the league in steals per game, averaging 1.971 and 1.970, respectively. As a team, the Aggies rank 23rd with 8.8 steals per game.

• This will be the second all-time meeting between Utah State and Villanova, the previous coming in the 1960 NIT at Madison Square Garden, a 73-72 overtime victory for the Aggies.

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Players Mentioned

Drake Allen

#8 Drake Allen

Guard
6' 5"
Graduate Student
Mason Falslev

#12 Mason Falslev

Guard
6' 4"
Junior
Karson Templin

#22 Karson Templin

Forward
6' 9"
Junior
MJ Collins Jr.

#2 MJ Collins Jr.

Guard
6' 4"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Drake Allen

#8 Drake Allen

6' 5"
Graduate Student
Guard
Mason Falslev

#12 Mason Falslev

6' 4"
Junior
Guard
Karson Templin

#22 Karson Templin

6' 9"
Junior
Forward
MJ Collins Jr.

#2 MJ Collins Jr.

6' 4"
Senior
Guard
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