USU Pulls Away Late Against Trailblazers, Remain Undefeated

LOGAN, Utah – Steven Ashworth’s seven three’s and Taylor Funk’s 20 factors led Utah State to their sixth straight win, an 86-81 overcome Utah Tech.

The Trailblazers (3-5) made the lengthy drive north to tackle the Utah State Aggies (6-0) on the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.

This was Utah State’s first recreation motion since a 95-85 win over Oral Roberts 9 days in the past. Utah Tech dispatched of the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a 66-60 house win on Saturday, November 26.

Ashworth led the Aggies with 25 factors, enjoying 32 minutes off the bench after Rylan Jones left with an harm within the opening minutes. Dan Akin chipped in 15 factors off the bench. Max Shulga completed with 10 as 4 Aggies scored in double-figures.

Cameron Gooden led the Trailblazers with 29 factors, scoring solely 9 factors within the second half. Dancell Leter (17) and Noa Gonsalves (15) have been the opposite Trailblazers to high 10 factors,

First Half

USU regarded out of sync to start the sport, displaying a little bit rust after nine-day break.

The Aggies have been a step sluggish defensively, a second late with their passes and the pictures have been a hair off as Utah Tech opened up an early 7-4 benefit earlier than the primary break.

The primary media timeout got here early when USU level guard Rylan Jones appeared to take an elbow to the top or neck space. The hit despatched him to the ground for a number of minutes. Jones didn’t return after being helped off the court docket.

The Aggies didn’t make their second discipline aim till Funk knocked down a transition three to tie it up at seven on the 14:43 mark.

Leter answered Funk’s shot with a jumper of his personal, staking the Trailblazers to their third early lead, 9-7.

Halfway by means of the half, the defenses led the way in which as Utah Tech was 4-of-11 (36.4 p.c) and the Aggies have been 4-for-13 (30.8 p.c) within the opening ten minutes.

Again-to-back three’s from the Trailblazers Gooden knocked the lid off the basket for each groups. Gooden hit a second three moments later, changing into the primary participant to succeed in double-figure scoring.

After Ashworth’s second three of the half, Gonsalves gave the Trailblazers a 22-20 lead when he answered with a 3 on the opposite finish.

Successive Aggie triples gave USU a 26-24 lead. That lead was short-lived as Gooden tied it with a driving layup on the following possession.

After Dan Akin gave USU a lead with two free throws, Gooden continued his hot-shooting, flattening a mid-range jumper to offer the Trailblazers a 31-30 lead.

A pair of buckets within the paint and two Max Shulga free throws had the Aggies main 36-33 with the power to play for the ultimate shot of the half. USU ran an important play, liberating Funk for an open look, however Funk’s miss caromed away.

The Trailblazers got here down with the rebound with sufficient time for Gooden to try a half-court three. In a psychological lapse, Funk fouled Gooden on the half-court heave.

Gooden knocked down all three free throws, giving him a recreation excessive 20 factors and tying the rating at 36.

Funk’s 12 factors led the Aggies on the half. Ashworth was the one different Aggie in double-figures with 11.

Second Half

Out of the break, the Trailblazers opened up a 5 level lead, the most important benefit of the night time for both squad.

USU responded with a 7-0 run of their very own to retake the lead, 43-41, and drive a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Utah Tech turned the ball over and Ashworth took benefit. He hit a baseline jumper to make it a 9 level Aggie run and provides USU a 45-41 lead.

UTU refused to go away, pulling off a fast 5-0 run to re-take the lead.

Each crew would go into an prolonged cold-stretch as USU went 0-for-2 with three turnovers and Utah Tech went scoreless for almost three minutes because the rating remained tied at 50.

After Utah Tech took a 52-50 lead on two free throws from Gonsalves, RJ Eytle-Rock hit a huge three from the left wing that gave USU a 53-52 lead. Shulga then hit a transition layup to offer the Aggies a 3 level lead.

Ashworth then hit his sixth three of the sport, giving USU their largest lead at 58-52.

On the Trailblazers subsequent possession, Ashworth picked up his fourth foul and was compelled to the bench with 9 minutes remaining.

With Ashworth on the bench, Funk took over.

After flattening a nook three off of an out of bounds play, Funk reached in and knocked the ball away from Gonsalves, earlier than diving on the free ball to drive the Trailblazers fifteenth turnover of the night time.

Funk then discovered Akin on their lonesome underneath the basket for a dunk to cap the stellar sequence for the first-year Aggie. Akin’s dunk gave USU a 65-57 lead.

With the Aggies in entrance by ten, the Trailblazers used a 5-0 run to chop the benefit to 67-62.

Zee Hamoda stopped the enjoyable with an elbow jumper.

On the opposite finish, Hamoda confirmed his size and quick-leaping potential when he met Gooden on the rim, rejecting the dunk try in a phenomenal show of athleticism,

USU went into the ultimate timeout with a 74-67 lead.

Utah Tech would get no nearer than 5 from that time on because the Aggies improved to 6-0 with an 84

Up Subsequent

Utah Tech will keep within the northern portion of the state as they journey to Ogden, Utah the place they’ll tackle the Weber State Wildcats on the Dee Occasions Heart on Saturday, December 3. Tip-off for this recreation is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MDT)

USU heads to northern California the place they’re scheduled to face the San Francisco Dons on the Chase Heart, house of the Golden State Warriors, on Sunday, December 4. Tip-off for this recreation is scheduled for six:30 p.m (MDT).

Protection of Utah State College Athletics from KSL Sports activities could be discovered right here. 

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