by Amos Naismith
March 3, 2006 (c) TrueAggies.com
Exclusive to TrueAggies.com
LOGAN, Utah – After suffering one of their worst home losses in the last decade against Nevada, the Utah State basketball team took their home court advantage back by dominated visiting Fresno State.
It seemed as though every Aggie on the floor wanted to make a statement as the attack came from all sides. Every starter scored in double figures and Nate Harris and Cass Matheus recorded double-doubles. Harris and Jaycee Carroll led the scoring with 18. David Pak scored 15, while Matheus tallied 12 and Durrall Peterson chalked up 11.
Matheus and Harris each grabbed 10 boards.
Pak was the first to help erase the memory of the Nevada game as he stormed for 10 points in the first seven minutes. Utah State seized the early lead over Fresno and never looked back.
The Bulldogs still made a game of it – coming within as many as three points in the first half. With 7:17 remaining, a Bulldog dropped in a long three over Pak to give Fresno 24 points to Utah State’s 27.
The balanced scoring came as a result of the quick passing USU was executing – causing guys to get open. With 2:00 to play Chaz Spicer had his shot blocked, which fell to Peterson who missed a lay-in under pressure, then Harris was there to get the Aggies the bucket. The basket gave the Aggies a 44-29 lead over the Bulldogs.
A scary moment happened with just over a minute to play in the half. At the 1:06 mark, Chris Huber was defending one of the Fresno players tightly around mid-court. The Fresno player swung with his elbows out and connected with Huber’s head. The Aggie guard dropped to the floor motionless. No foul was called, but Huber left the game under his own power as the students began chanting ‘Huber!’ He did not see any additional action on the night as a precaution.
The Aggie big men took the offensive reigns at the start of the seconds half. Harris scored six unanswered points to open the half. Then Matheus got into the action scoring five in about a minutes time – around the 16:00 mark.
USU continued to hold their lead, even though Fresno kept the game within reach. Every time it looked as though the visitors would catch up the Aggies would hit a vital basket to keep things positive for Utah State.
With 5:19 remaining in the game Pak, at the top of the key, found a double-covered Carroll slashing through the lane. Carroll was able to receive Pak’s pass, make the shot and get the foul for a three point play which put the Aggies up 79-65.
Carroll, Matheus, and Pak were all sent to the line during the final 90 seconds of the game. Each one was perfect on their foul shots as the Aggies won by a decade, 87-77.
The win keeps the Aggies tied with New Mexico State and Lousiana Tech, each with 10-5 league records.
The Aggies return to the Spectrum one last time, for the regular season, on Saturday as they host the Spartans of San Jose State. Tip off is set for 7:05 pm
You can email feedback, or comments and suggestions to Amos at amosnaismith@trueaggies.com
Official Basketball Box Score
Official Basketball Box Score
Fresno State vs Utah State
03-02-06 7:07 pm at Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
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VISITORS: Fresno State 15-12, 8-7
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
14 Hosley, Quinton..... f 6-12 2-3 4-4 2 5 7 2 18 0 0 2 0 35
34 Coleman, Ja'Vance... f 4-13 4-11 2-2 0 2 2 2 14 1 3 0 1 36
21 Hernandez, Hector... c 6-8 2-4 0-0 3 4 7 2 14 2 0 3 0 34
01 Bell, Kevin......... g 3-9 1-4 2-2 1 1 2 2 9 9 1 0 1 37
05 O'Neil, Dwight...... g 6-11 2-4 2-4 0 1 1 5 16 2 3 0 2 32
04 Morris, Donovan..... 2-4 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 0 1 12
10 Riding, Ajay........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
32 Tchana, James....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
55 Cesar, Renato....... 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 8
Team................
Totals.............. 27-58 11-27 12-14 7 14 21 16 77 14 7 5 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-28 46.4% 2nd Half: 14-30 46.7% Game: 46.6% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-10 50.0% 2nd Half: 6-17 35.3% Game: 40.7% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-7 85.7% 2nd Half: 6-7 85.7% Game: 85.7% 1
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HOME TEAM: Utah State 20-7, 10-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Harris, Nate........ f 8-11 0-0 2-2 2 8 10 2 18 4 4 1 0 34
24 Peterson, Durrall... f 4-10 3-7 0-0 1 3 4 1 11 4 1 0 0 30
03 Matheus, Cass....... c 4-4 0-0 4-5 2 8 10 4 12 2 2 0 1 33
02 Pak, David.......... g 4-7 2-4 5-6 0 1 1 4 15 7 2 0 0 27
20 Carroll, Jaycee..... g 7-12 2-4 2-3 1 1 2 3 18 4 1 0 0 34
21 Session, Chris...... 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 17
23 Huber, Chris........ 1-2 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 11
25 Hammer, Nick........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
30 Spicer, Chaz........ 3-5 0-0 2-2 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 13
TEAM................ 1 1 2
Totals.............. 32-53 8-17 15-18 8 25 33 16 87 22 11 1 1 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 18-31 58.1% 2nd Half: 14-22 63.6% Game: 60.4% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 7-13 53.8% 2nd Half: 1-4 25.0% Game: 47.1% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0% 2nd Half: 12-14 85.7% Game: 83.3% 2
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Officials: David Hall, Bob Staffen, Kelly Self
Technical fouls: Fresno State-None. Utah State-None.
Attendance: 7740
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Fresno State.................. 37 40 - 77
Utah State.................... 46 41 - 87