by Amos Naismith
March 2, 2007 (c) TrueAggies.com
Exclusive to TrueAggies.com
Logan, UT -- I picked a good game to actually make my first trek out to the Spectrum this season. Yes, this year has been the first since I've been an Aggie that I have not be present for the majority of the Men's Basketball games - hence the severe lack of articles this year.
Al Lewis and I have developed a very tight, although one-sided, relationship, where I have relied on his words to be my eyes. Our arrangement has worked out for the most part, except for tonight I wanted be there. So, the Misses and I found someone to watch the Little Naismith and we joined the Sold Out throngs of 10,270.
Last season you could spot me in the stands as one of the only people sitting higher than the press table scribbling in a notebook for the duration of the game. This year, I'm a little more discrete. Instead, you'll know if I'm sitting behind you because I'll be leaning forward on my thighs with my knees digging into your back and constantly muttering. If the nice man with two big bruises around his shoulder blades is reading this, I sincerely apologize. I had nowhere else to put them.
Sporting events are a great place to mutter in the open and not be thought crazy, or even out of place. I was skeptical going into game. I honestly didn't think Utah State had it in them to knock off the number 9 team in the land, even at the Spectrum.
Jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead brightened my outlook, thinking this could be the Aggies night. But the Wolfpack machine powered by Marcelus Kemp made up ground quickly and took hold of a lead that they would keep until just over four minutes in regulation. During that time Nevada led by as many as 15, when Nick Fazekas hit a triple point bucket to put the Wolfpack up 40-25 two minutes before half-time.
The second half breathed new life into the Aggies, as they tallied 12 points in the first five minutes, compared to Nevada's 5 during that time. The hosts got within striking distance a couple times during the second half, but couldn't draw even until 4:14 left to play when Jaycee Carroll followed up a missed opportunity from Chaz Spicer with an soft lay in.
Ears were ringing all through the Spectrum as the volume of the crowd reached deafening levels.
On Nevada's next trip down the floor Fazekas was whistled for an offensive foul that sent Nevada coach Mark Fox rumbling onto the court. Promptly issued a technical foul by the officials, Jaycee stepped up to drain both chances from the line.
Not a soul in the building was sitting down through the remaining tense moments of regulation and through the short overtime period. There were several plays where the game could have been iced by both sides, but for some reason neither team could get it done.
Chaz Spicer's pair of successful free throws with 3.8 seconds to go in overtime brought the student section to the edge of the railings, and Kemp's last second air ball released the rushing tide of exuberant students celebrating the great victory.
Parting Shots:
- Even though he was the leading scorer for the Aggies, and defended Fezekas superbly during most of the game, was I the only one who cringed every time Ducharme through up a shot?
- It's good to see the offensive production spread around the team, with 3 starters in double figures
- Rushing the Court: I have no problems with the student section rushing the court. The players enjoy it, and it's an exciting way for athletes and fans to celebrate together.
You can email feedback, or comments and suggestions to Amos at amosnaismith@trueaggies.com
Official Basketball Box Score
Official Basketball Box Score Nevada vs Utah State 03/01/07 7:07 p.m. at Logan, Utah (Dee Glen Smith Spectrum)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VISITORS: Nevada 26-3, 13-2 WAC TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 22 Fazekas, Nick....... f 7-17 2-2 4-4 5 5 10 4 20 2 1 1 0 35 31 Ikovlev, Denis...... f 3-5 2-3 0-0 2 1 3 3 8 0 2 1 0 31 03 Shiloh, Kyle........ g 0-6 0-2 4-4 3 0 3 2 4 5 2 0 0 25 05 Kemp, Marcelus...... g 10-21 5-12 0-0 2 4 6 1 25 0 3 0 1 39 11 Sessions, Ramon..... g 4-12 1-3 0-0 6 6 12 1 9 6 6 0 3 37 00 Fields, Brandon..... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 7 01 Burleson, Lyndale... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 0 1 22 13 LaGrone, Matt....... 1-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 23 Hanson, Tyrone...... 1-1 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 6 25 Ellis, David........ 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 2 0 1 1 1 12 34 McGee, JaVale....... 1-4 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 8 TEAM................ 2 1 3 Totals.............. 29-70 11-24 8-8 23 22 45 14 77 16 16 4 6 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-31 51.6% 2nd Half: 10-33 30.3% OT: 3-6 50.0% Game: 41.4% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-11 54.5% 2nd Half: 5-12 41.7% OT: 0-1 0.0% Game: 45.8% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-4 100 % 2nd Half: 4-4 100 % OT: 0-0 0.0% Game: 100 % 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOME TEAM: Utah State 21-9, 9-6 WAC TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS ## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 30 Spicer, Chaz........ f 6-13 2-3 3-3 1 0 1 0 17 2 4 0 1 31 40 DuCharme, Stephen... f 8-16 2-2 2-3 7 1 8 2 20 2 2 0 3 38 10 Clark, Kris......... g 2-6 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 5 7 2 0 1 36 20 Carroll, Jaycee..... g 7-14 1-6 3-3 3 6 9 2 18 1 3 1 0 44 24 Peterson, Durrall... g 3-9 1-7 1-1 0 6 6 2 8 8 1 0 1 37 03 Hammer, Nick........ 1-3 0-1 1-1 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 0 1 18 11 Vaitiekus, Arvydas.. 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 21 Session, Chris...... 4-5 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 4 8 0 0 0 0 19 TEAM................ 1 2 3 Totals.............. 31-68 7-20 10-11 15 18 33 13 79 20 12 1 7 225
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-34 38.2% 2nd Half: 16-29 55.2% OT: 2-5 40.0% Game: 45.6% DEADB 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-8 25.0% 2nd Half: 4-10 40.0% OT: 1-2 50.0% Game: 35.0% REBS F Throw % 1st Half: 4-4 100 % 2nd Half: 3-3 100 % OT: 3-4 75.0% Game: 90.9% 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Officials: Scott Thornley, Bob Staffen, Bill Gracey Technical fouls: Nevada-TEAM. Utah State-None. Attendance: 10270 Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total Nevada........................ 42 29 6 - 77 Utah State.................... 32 39 8 - 79 ID-471557 Nevada ranked #9 in ESPN/USA Today Poll - #10 in AP Poll. USU's second win over #9 team (Nov. 18, 1998 over #9 Utah) USU 15 game win streak - last loss to Nevada on Feb. 25, 2006.
Points in the paint-NEV 26,USU 34. Points off turnovers-NEV 17,USU 17. 2nd chance points-NEV 23,USU 12. Fast break points-NEV 4,USU 9. Bench points-NEV 11,USU 11. Score tied-8 times. Lead changed-6 times. Last FG-NEV OT-02:00, USU OT-00:45. Largest lead-NEV by 15 1st-02:04, USU by 6 1st-17:17.