March 8, 2013
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LOGAN, Utah -
Utah State Men's Basketball Notes vs UTSA 
UTSA (8-20, 3-13 WAC) at Utah State (20-9, 10-7 WAC)
Saturday, March 9, 2013 • 7 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah
Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270) • Aggie Sports Network • KMYU TV
SENIOR NIGHT
The Last Meeting
December 29, 2012
San Antonio, Texas
GAME DAY HEADLINES
• In its regular-season finale, Utah State men's basketball (20-9, 10-7 WAC) will host UTSA (8-20, 3-13 WAC) on Saturday, March 7 in USU's third-straight game against both a Western Athletic Conference newcomer as well as a team from Texas. Saturday's regular-season finale match-up between the Aggies and Roadrunners is slated for 7 p.m. (MT) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum (10,270). The match-up between USU and UTSA will be regionally televised by KMYU (Comcast Ch. 22, Dish Network Ch. 12, DirecTV Ch. 12, Over-the-Air 2.2), as well as aired on the radio and audio streamed online on the Aggie Sports Network, and also video streamed online through on USU's website, www.UtahStateAggies.com.
• Saturday is USU's Senior Night, with the Aggies honoring their lone senior, forward Kyisean Reed, in a pre-game ceremony.
• Now in its 108th season of basketball, Utah State has an overall record of 1,499-1,031 (.593) in its 2,529 games played.
• A win Saturday would give Utah State its 1,500th all-time win, becoming the 52nd team in NCAA history to reach the 1,500 total win plateau.
• As of Friday, March 8, Utah State has an RPI of 97 and a strength of schedule of 138, while the Western Athletic Conference is ranked 13th overall.
• USU started its WAC schedule against UTSA, facing the Roadrunners in both teams' WAC opener, and the Aggies end their conference ledger against them, in their only year in the WAC together. USU will be leaving the WAC for the Mountain West next year, while UTSA will be joining Conference USA.
• UTSA will be making its first visit to Logan, as the Aggies and Roadrunners are meeting for only the second time in school history, with the first meeting coming earlier this season on Dec. 29, 2012 at San Antonio, won by USU, 71-67, in both teams' WAC season-openers and UTSA's inaugural WAC game.
• This is UTSA's first game of the weekend, as the Roadrunners' scheduled game at San Jose State on Thursday night was cancelled due to a leaky roof at SJSU's Event Center.
• Utah State won its 20th game of the season with its 77-61 win over Texas State on Thursday. USU is one of just six teams in the country to win at least 20 games in each of the past 14 seasons along with Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Syracuse. Furthermore, it is the 28th time in school history that USU has won 20 games.
• Utah State has won 47 of its last 61 WAC games (.770) and is 73-22 (.768) against teams from the WAC during the last six seasons. Overall, USU has a 93-34 (.732) regular-season WAC record in its eight years in the league.
• Utah State is now 13-4 at home this year and USU has won 62 of its last 71 games (.873) in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Overall, USU has won 98 of its last 108 home games (.907).
• USU has won 91.0 percent of its home games (223-22) under head coach Stew Morrill, and the Aggies have won 251 of their last 275 games (.913) in the Spectrum. USU has registered a 517-115 (.818) all-time record in its 43rd year in the facility.
• Utah State improved to a palindromic 52-25 (.675) in the month of March under Morrill, which includes a 19-5 (.792) home record. USU is 145-55 (.725) in games played on Saturday under head coach Stew Morrill. The Aggies are 5-5 (.500) all-time in known games played on March 9.
THIS WEEK
After getting back in the win column with a 77-61 victory over the Bobcats of Texas State on Thursday, Utah State will take on its third-straight Western Athletic Conference rookie and face its third team from Texas in a row, hosting UTSA on Saturday, March 9. Saturday is USU's Senior Night, with the Aggies honoring their lone senior, forward Kyisean Reed. The match-up between the Aggies and Roadrunners will be televised regionally on KMYU (Comcast Ch. 22, Dish Network Ch. 12, DirecTV Ch. 12, Over-the-Air 2.2). Mychal Clanton will handle play-by-play duties and Brooks Hansen will provide color commentary. It will also be aired on the radio on the Aggie Sports Network, along with live streaming on USU's website, www.UtahStateAggies.com.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
USU will compete in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., at the Orleans Arena. The Aggies will be the No. 5 seed and will take on the No. 4 seeded UT Arlington on Thursday, March 14 at 9:30 p.m. (MT) in the quarterfinals.
ON THE AIRWAVES
Utah State basketball games are broadcast on the Aggie Sports Network on KVNU (610 AM/102.1 FM) and KLZX (95.9 FM) in Logan, mostly on KZNS (97.5 FM) in Salt Lake City, KZNU (1450 AM) in St. George, KVEL (920 AM) in Vernal, KRPX (95.3 FM) in Price, and KLZX (105.3 FM) in Montpelier, Idaho, as well as on the internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Al Lewis serves as the play-by-play announcer while former USU head coach and athletics director Rod Tueller serves as the analyst during home games and select road games.
Saturday's game will be aired in Salt Lake City on KOVO 960 AM and KDYL 1060 AM. Both games will air in St. George on KZNU 1450 AM, in Vernal on KVEL 920 AM, and in Price on KRPX 95.3 FM.
LISTEN LIVE ON THE INTERNET
Fans can also listen to all Utah State men's basketball games on the Internet by clocking on the "Listen Live" link at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics.
ON TV
Saturday's match-up between the Aggies and Roadrunners will be televised regionally on KMYU (Comcast Ch. 22, Dish Network Ch. 12, DirecTV Ch. 12, Over-the-Air 2.2). Mychal Clanton will handle play-by-play duties and Brooks Hansen will provide color commentary. It will also be aired on the radio on the Aggie Sports Network, along with live streaming on USU's website, www.UtahStateAggies.com.
LIVE STATS
Live stats for all USU home games are available via "Gametracker" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. Road games will be under "live stats" links at www.utahstateaggies.com, which will redirect fans to the home team's stat system.
LIVE VIDEO ON THE INTERNET
All Utah State home games and road games where available are streamed on the Internet by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official web site of USU athletics. Fans will need to pay a small fee to watch the game.
BEING SOCIAL
Utah State men's basketball news, game updates and information is available on twitter @Aggiehoops.
UTAH STATE IN PURSUIT OF FIFTH WAC TITLE IN EIGHT YEARS
Utah State is seeking its fifth Western Athletic Conference regular season championship in the last six years as part of USU's eight years in the league. The Aggies shared the 2008 title with Boise State, Nevada and New Mexico State as all four teams had 12-4 league records, before winning the 2009 and 2010 WAC titles with identical 14-2 conference records, and the 2011 WAC Championship after going 15-1. Prior to USU's run, Nevada won five straight regular season WAC titles from 2004-08.
EIGHTH AND FINAL YEAR IN WAC
Utah State is playing in its eighth and final season in the Western Athletic Conference, before joining the Mountain West Conference in 2013. USU currently has a 93-34 (.732) overall regular-season WAC record in its eight years in the league, including having won 47 of its last 61 WAC games (.770) and is 73-22 (.768) against teams from the WAC during the last six seasons.
A QUICK GLANCE AT UTAH STATE
The Aggies won their 20th game of the season with its 77-61 win over Texas State on Thursday, improving to 20-9 overall and 10-7 in WAC play. Utah State had four players score in double-figures led by junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield's 10 points and 20 rebounds. Butterfield, who added seven assists in the game, recorded his seventh double-double of the season as his 20 rebounds are the most by an Aggie since Dec. 20, 1997 when Donnie Johnson had 20 boards in a home win against Long Island. Junior center Jarred Shaw posted his ninth double-double of the season for Utah State as he finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore forward Ben Clifford scored 13 points to go along with six rebounds, while tying his career-highs in both assists and blocked shots with four each. Freshman point guard Marcel Davis also scored in double-figures with 12 points and a career-best five steals. Utah State swiped a season-high 11 steals Thursday night, bettering the 10 swipes that the Aggies had in the last meeting with Texas State, on Dec. 31, 2012 at San Marcos. The USU defense limited Texas State to 15 first-half points, which were the fewest allowed by the Aggies' defense in the first half since 15 by Louisiana Tech on March 5, 2011 in USU's 72-30 win. Utah State's 47 rebounds Thursday were its second-most in WAC play and its third-most overall of the season behind its season-high 50 against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 26.
UTAH STATE ON SENIOR NIGHT
Utah State will be playing its final home game of the 2012-13 regular-season ledger on Saturday and will recognize its lone senior, forward Kyisean Reed in a pre-game ceremony. USU is 13-1 (.929) on Senior Night under Morrill and 44-11 (.800) all-time on Senior Night dating back to the 1957-58 season.
52 TO 1500
A win Saturday would give Utah State its 1,500th all-time win, becoming the 52nd team in NCAA history to reach the 1,500 total win plateau.
MEDLIN, REED SUFFER INJURIES
Utah State men's basketball head coach Stew Morrill announced an update on a pair of players who suffered injuries in the Aggies' game at New Mexico State on Thursday, Jan. 17. Junior guard Preston Medlin will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist, while senior forward Kyisean Reed is out with a season-ending torn ACL in his knee. Medlin's injury happened in the first half, but he played the rest of the game, while Reed's injury happened late in the second half against NMSU and he did not return to action.
Medlin was averaging 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He was shooting 47.4 percent (82-of-173) from the field, including 39.3 percent (33-of-84) from three-point range and 81.8 percent (63-of-77) at the free throw line. Medlin was averaging 16.3 ppg, as well as shooting 47.4 percent (82-of-173) from the field, 39.3 percent (33-of-84) behind the arc and 81.8 percent (63-of-77) at the free throw line. He was averaging 2.06 made three-pointers per game. Medlin was also leading the conference in minutes played (36.06).
Reed averaged 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, and still holds the team lead for both blocked shots (28 total) and steals (26 total). At the time of the injury, he was netting a team-high 58.2 percent (71-of-122) field goal shooting, as well as 66.2 percent (51-of-77) at the free throw line. Reed averaged 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.75 blocked shots and 1.63 steals per game. Reed made 58.2 percent (71-of-122) of his field goals, netting 66.2 percent (51-of-77) at the free throw line. He averaged 30.4 minutes per game.
THREE RETURNING STARTERS, OUT WITH THREE DIFFERENT MEDICAL SITUATIONS
USU entered this season with three returning starters and all three are now not in action due to medical situations. Junior forward Danny Berger collapsed in practice on Dec. 4 from full cardiac arrest, but was released from Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on morning of Dec. 8 and was on the bench with his teammates that night. Berger will miss the remainder of the season. Junior guard Preston Medlin will be out 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist sustained on Jan. 17, while senior forward Kyisean Reed is out with a season-ending torn ACL in his knee. USU has also been without the services of junior forward Sean Harris, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his knee during preseason workouts.
UTAH STATE COLLECTS 14TH-STRAIGHT 20 WIN SEASON
Thursday's win was Utah State's 20th of the season, marking the 14th-straight year that USU has won at least 20 games in a season. USU is one of just six teams in the country to win at least 20 games in each of the past 14 seasons along with Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Syracuse. Furthermore, it is the 28th time in school history that USU has won 20 games. Under veteran head coach Stew Morrill, Utah State is 14-6 (.700) when attempting to win its 20th game, while USU is 28-14 (.667) all-time when going for its 20th win of the year.
UTAH STATE DOUBLE-DIGIT CONFERENCE WINS
Utah State won its 10th WAC game of the season on March 7, giving the Aggies their sixth season with double-digit WAC wins in USU's eight years in the league. Under veteran head coach Stew Morrill, USU now has 12 seasons with double-figures in the conference win column in his 15 seasons at the helm of the Aggie program. Overall, it is USU's 24th season with double-digit conference wins.
BUTTERFIELD'S 20 REBOUNDS MOST IN WAC AND AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield's 20 rebounds in the Aggies' win over Texas State on March 7 was not only the most by a USU player since 1997, it was also the most by a WAC player this season, bettering the previous mark of 18 boards, done by three other players in WAC games and four other players overall. Additionally, the 20 rebounds were tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA this season, as Butterfield becomes the 12th player to do so.
UTAH STATE INDIVIDUALS QUICK BITS
Junior Center Jarred Shaw
• Averaging nearly a double-double with 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, adding 1.0 blocks per game as well.
• Shaw has scored in double-figures in each of the last 11 games, logging his team-leading ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Texas State, which followed posting 11 points and eight rebounds in the loss at UT Arlington, after tallying 14 points to go with eight rebounds in the LA Tech loss. That came on the heels of logging his eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Illinois State.
• Shaw topped his career-high in back-to-back games, posting 21 points to go with 14 rebounds in the loss to LA Tech and then netted a career-best 27 points at Idaho, adding nine rebounds.
• Shaw has at least seven rebounds in 22 games this season, including nine double-digit rebounding outings, which have all led to his double-doubles.
• Shaw also is shooting 54.0 percent (167-of-309) from the field in addition to 71.2 percent (74-of-104) at the free throw line, going a perfect 6-of-6 at LA Tech and 5-of-5 at UTA.
• After having at least one blocked shot in USU's first 14 games of the season, Shaw did not register a blocked shot in the next four games before bouncing back with a career-high four blocks at home against LA Tech. He has at least one blocked shot in 19 games, including six games with multiple blocks.
Junior Guard/Forward Spencer Butterfield
• Named the WAC Player of the Week for Feb. 4-10.
• Missed the game at UTA due to an injury, but returned to action against Texas State with a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 points. The 20 rebounds was most by an Aggie player since 1997 and is the most in the WAC this season, as well as tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA this season.
• Has seven double-doubles on the season, most recently with a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 points in USU's win over Texas State on March. 7.
• Had streak of five-straight double-doubles earlier this season, halted in the loss to Denver on Feb. 14 with 16 points and six rebounds, adding three assists and two steals, but bounced back to register 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal against NMSU and then his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds at BYU, adding five assists and one steal. He then recorded 16 points and six rebounds in the win over Illinois State, adding two assists, two steals and one blocked shot, then posted seven points, six rebounds and one assist at LA Tech before leaving the game with an injury and did not play in the UT Arlington game.
• Averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He started his spurt of five double-doubles in a row with a career-high 23 points and added a then-career-best 11 rebounds against UT Arlington, then posted 16 points and a new career-high with 15 rebounds in home loss to LA Tech. Butterfield logged 11 points and 10 rebounds at Idaho, then posted 13 points and 11 boards at Seattle before 22 points and 10 rebounds at SJSU.
• Now has 17 double-digit scoring outings in the last 22 games, and has also pulled down four or more rebounds in each of the last 13 games.
• Has filled in splendidly at starting forward for Danny Berger, as Butterfield has scored 295 points in 22 games as a starter, averaging 13.4 ppg as a starter after averaging 5.0 ppg in the first five games of the season off the bench.
• Leads the team in three-pointers, now has 43 made three-pointers (43-of-105), and is also first on the team in three-point percentage, making 41.0 percent behind the arc.
Freshman Guard Marcel Davis
• Averages 7.5 ppg on the season, after posting his ninth game this season in double-digits, including each of the last two games with 12 points Thursday against Texas State following a team-high 15 points Saturday at UT Arlington, which was the third time this season that Davis has led the team in scoring.
• Leads the team with 3.2 assists per game. Davis has now tallied at least four helpers in 13 of the last 22 games, including a career-high eight against Illinois State and six against both Denver and NMSU, and Davis now has six games with six or more assists.
• He now has 83 assists in 23 games as a starter (3.6) after totaling 10 assists in the first five games of the season off the bench (2.0 apg).
Junior Guard/Forward Marvin Jean
• Replaced injured guard Preston Medlin in the starting line-up, averaging 6.8 ppg on 88 points in the last 13 games as starter after averaging 3.5 ppg off the bench, tallying a season-high 14 at Denver and adding 11 each vs. UTA and at BYU and 10 vs. Illinois State, for an overall season average of 5.0 ppg.
• Is shooting 37.7 percent (49-of-130) from the field, including making 34.9 percent (30-of-86) from distance. Jean was a combined 7-of-13 (.538) behind the arc at Denver and home against UTA.
• Has 10 games with multiple three-pointers.
USU MEN'S BASKETBALL RANKED AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN NCAA STATISTICS
Utah State men's basketball is ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding margin as part of ranking in the top 40 in two categories of the most recent NCAA Division I statistics, updated and released Friday by the NCAA. USU's +9.1 rebounding margin ranks the team fifth in the NCAA, and also is tops in the Western Athletic Conference. The Aggies' rebounding margin is helped by out-rebounding each of its last 13 opponents, improving to 17-8 on the season when out-rebounding its opponent.
The Aggies are also 42nd in the country in field goal percentage (.465). Utah State also is 62nd in won-lost percentage (.690) and 68th in the nation in assists per game (14.6).
AGGIE INDIVIDUALS IN NCAA STATS
Junior center Jarred Shaw is ranked 49th in field goal percentage (.540), as well as 68th in double-doubles (9.0) and 77th in rebounds per game (8.4).
USU LEADING WAC OVERALL IN TWO CATEGORIES
Utah State leads the WAC statistics for rebounding margin (+9.1) and the Aggies also are tops in the conference in rebounding defense, holding their opponents to 28.5 rebounds per game.
USU also is second in the league in assists (14.59), while ranking third in field goal percentage (.465), three-point field goal percentage (.354), free throw percentage (.717) and assist-turnover ration (1.10). The Aggies rank fourth in scoring (68.4), scoring margin (+5.1) and blocks (3.97), in addition to fifth in scoring defense (63.3), field goal percentage defense (.411) and rebounds (37.6), while ranking seventh in three-point field goal percentage defense (.339) and ninth in steals (9.00).
AGGIES IN WAC ONLY STATISTICAL LISTS
In WAC only games, USU is first in rebounding margin (+8.1) and rebounding defense (29.3), while ranking second in free throw percentage (.733), as well as third in three-point field goal percentage (.350) and assist-turnover ratio (0.97). Utah State also is fourth in scoring defense (62.9), scoring margin (+3.2), field goal percentage (.443), rebounds (37.4) and assists (12.71), while ranking tied for fourth in blocks (3.53). Additionally, the Aggies are fifth in scoring (66.1), sixth in field goal percentage defense (.418) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.348), as well as ninth in steals (4.65).
BUTTERFIELD LEADS WAC IN FT PERCENTAGE; UTAH STATE INDIVIDUALS IN WAC AND WAC ONLY STATS
Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield leads the WAC in free throw percentage both overall (.829) and league only games (.844). Butterfield ranks 11th in the WAC in scoring overall (11.9), while ranking ninth in league games (13.3). He also is fourth in the league in overall three-point field goal percentage (.410), while ranking sixth in conference games (.394), in addition to ninth in overall three-pointers made (1.59) and 10th in WAC only games (1.63). Butterfield also ranks sixth in field goal percentage overall (.487) and ninth in league games (.490), as well as seventh in rebounds overall (6.8) and eighth in league contests (7.9), in addition to 14th in the WAC overall in assists (2.63) and tied for 11th in WAC only (3.06).
Junior center Jarred Shaw is fourth in overall field goal percentage (.540), while ranking sixth in conference only games (.528), as well as seventh in overall scoring (14.1) and tied for sixth in league games (14.5). He also is fourth in the league in rebounding both overall (8.4) and conference games (8.0), in addition to ninth in overall blocks (1.00) and tied for 10th in conference games (0.82).
Freshman guard Marcel Davis is tied for sixth in the WAC in assist-turnover ratio overall (1.50) and 12th in league only (1.47). Davis also is ninth in overall assists (3.21) and fifth in league games (3.71). Junior guard/forward Marvin Jean is 14th in overall three-point field goal percentage (.349), while junior guard TeNale Roland is 14th in WAC only three-point field goal percentage (.362). Additionally, sophomore forward Ben Clifford is tied with Shaw for 10th in WAC games for blocks (0.82).
SHAW HAS HIGHEST REBOUNDING AVERAGE SINCE 1995-96
Senior center Jarred Shaw currently has a season average of 8.4 rebounds per game (243 rebounds in 29 games), which is the highest single-season rebounding mark since Eric Franson in 1995-96 with 8.5 rpg (282 rebounds in 33 games).
SCOUTING UTSA
The Roadrunners bring an 8-20 overall and 3-13 WAC ledger into Saturday's regular-season finale, after their game at San Jose State on Thursday was cancelled due to a leaky roof at SJSU's Event Center. In its last action, UTSA lost to Seattle, 53-37, in the Roadrunners final home game of the regular-season. Junior forward Jeromie Hill and senior guard Kannon Burrage tallied 15 points apiece, as UTSA shot 22.6 percent (12-of-53) from the field. Hill netted four three-pointers while Burrage tallied three treys, as the Roadrunners shot better from behind the arc at 25.9 percent (7-of-27).
UTSA is eighth in the WAC in scoring offense (64.4), ninth in scoring defense (70.2) and ninth in scoring margin (-5.8). The Roadrunners are also ninth in field goal percentage (.399), fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.342) and sixth in free throw percentage (.679). Additionally, UTSA is ninth in rebounding (31.5), eighth in rebounding margin (-4.1), 10th in both assists (10.0) and assist-turnover ratio (0.73), as well as sixth in steals (6.5), fourth in turnover margin (+0.21) and 10th in blocks (1.32).
Individually, Burrage leads the WAC in scoring at 17.4 ppg, while senior guard Michael Hale III is fourth in the league at 15.9 ppg and Hill is ninth (12.8). Burrage is fifth in the conference in three-pointers made (1.82), just behind Hale III at fourth (2.00). Hale III is also 11th in three-point percentage (.361), fourth in assists (3.77), seventh in steals (1.54) and ninth in assist-turnover ratio (1.34). Hill also is 10th in rebounding (6.2).
UTSA head coach Brooks Thompson is in his seventh year at the reins of the Roadrunners program, posting a 104-111 (.904) record at UTSA, as well as a 159-125 (.560) record in his ninth overall season as a head coach, spending two seasons at Yavapai (Ariz.) College, posting a 55-14 (.797) ledger there.
AGGIES VERSUS ROADRUNNERS SERIES HISTORY
USU and UTSA will be meeting for just the second time, first meeting on Dec. 29, 2012 in San Antonio, won by USU, 71-67, in both teams' WAC season-openers and UTSA's inaugural WAC game. The Aggies are in their eighth and final season in the Western Athletic Conference, while the Bobcats are in their first and last season in the WAC, before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF TEXAS
Utah State is 27-12 (.684) all-time against teams from the state of Texas as it is 8-1 against North Texas, 2-0 against Houston Baptist, TCU, Texas and WAC rookie Texas State, 2-1 versus Texas Tech, 1-0 against Baylor, Lamar, Midwestern State, Texas Southern and WAC newcomer UTSA, 1-1 against Houston, 1-2 versus Texas A&M and UT Arlington, 1-4 against UTEP and 1-1 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Saturday is USU's third-straight game and sixth game overall against an opponent from the Lone Star State this season, as USU beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 77-68, on Nov. 17, won at UTSA, 71-67, on Dec. 29 and won at Texas State, 81-57 on Dec. 31, before losing at home to UT Arlington, 74-68, on Jan. 24 and at UTA, 61-46, on March 2, before bouncing back and defeating Texas State on March 7, 77-61.
Overall, USU is 15-3 (.833) in home games against teams from Texas, as the Aggies have posted a 4-0 mark against North Texas, 2-0 versus Houston Baptist and Midwestern State, 1-0 against TCU, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas Southern, Texas Tech and Texas State, 1-1 versus UT Arlington, while going 0-2 against UTEP.
AGGIES' TEXAS TWO-STEPPERS
USU has two players on its active roster from the state of Texas in junior guard Preston Medlin (Carrollton, Texas/Hebron HS) and junior center Jarred Shaw (Dallas, Texas/Carter HS/Oklahoma State), in addition to redshirting freshman forward Quinn Taylor (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS).
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE WAC
Utah State is 213-123 (.634) all-time against current members of the WAC and the Aggies have a winning record against every team in the league.
Stew Morrill VERSUS THE WAC
Stew Morrill is 154-90 (.629) all-time in WAC games, which includes a 93-34 (.732) record at Utah State and a 61-57 (.517) record at Colorado State.
LAST MEETING AGAINST UTSA
Junior guard and Texas native Preston Medlin netted a season-high 24 points while fellow junior, guard/forward Spencer Butterfield tied his season-high with 14 points to lead Utah State men's basketball to a 71-67 win over UTSA on Jan. 29 at UTSA's Convocation Center in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams. USU improved to 10-1 for the first time since 2008-09 and the seventh time in school history, as well as moving to 1-0 in WAC play for the fifth time in its eight years in the league. Overall, the Aggies improved to 5-3 in WAC openers, winning their last three in a row and five of the last six after dropping its first two WAC openers. UTSA suffered its sixth loss in its last seven games, falling to 4-7 overall and lost its inaugural WAC game, as the Roadrunners are in their one and only season in the WAC. Saturday was also the first-ever meeting between USU and UTSA. The Aggies shot a season-high 62.2 percent (28-of-45) from the field, hitting 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from three-point range, overcoming a season-low 47.6 percent (10-of-21) outing at the free throw line. The Roadrunners were 25-of-64 (39.1 percent) field goal shooting, making 11-of-29 (37.9 percent) behind the arc and 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) at the charity stripe. Medlin, a native of Carrollton, Texas who was born in San Antonio, posted his season-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, hitting 3-of-7 from distance and 3-of-4 at the free pitch stripe. Medlin has now scored in double-figures in each of the last three games and it was his eighth double-digit outing this season and 40th of career. He has also posted 20 or more points twice in the last three games, and has done so 15 times in his career. After not making more than two three-pointers in the first eight games of the season, Medlin has now made three or more treys in the last three games, and now has 23 career games with three or more three-pointers. Butterfield tied his season-best for the third-straight game played with 14 points, after missing the Aggies' last game with an illness. He also hit his lone three-pointer, and it was a big one in the waning minutes from deep in the right corner. Butterfield also added seven rebounds. Junior center Jarred Shaw, who is a native of Dallas, Texas, was one rebound shy of his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high tying nine rebounds. Senior forward Kyisean Reed added nine points and six rebounds. After out-rebounding the opponent in the previous nine games of the season, the Aggies have now been out-rebounded in the last two contests, as UTSA had a slight, 32-31 rebounding edge. UTSA was led by 20 points by Jordan Sims, hitting 6-of-8 from three-point range, while Kannon Burrage added 14 points and Jeromie Hill tossed in 12 points to go with matching Shaw with nine rebounds. After the Roadrunners took an 8-2 lead, the Aggies stormed back with a 10-0 run, starting by back-to-back treys from Medlin and freshman guard Marcel Davis netted a bucket for a 12-8 USU lead with 15:03 to go. Junior guard TeNale Roland hit a layup for a 21-16 Aggie advantage with 10:14 to play, but UTSA went on a 13-4 spurt to take a 29-25 lead at the 5:29 mark after a layup by Hyjii Thomas. Davis drained a three and Medlin hit a free throw to knot the score at 29-29 with 4:42 to go in the half, and from there, USU closed out the half on a 10-2 streak, as Reed hit an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:02 left and Medlin netted a three-point shot with four ticks to go, giving USU a 39-31 lead at halftime, as the Aggies improved to 8-0 this season and have won 74 of its last 76 games when leading at the half. UTSA cut the gap to 49-45 with 12:37 on the second half clock on a layup by Hill, but Rolad later hit a free throw to stretch the Aggie lead back to a palindromic 54-45 at the 10:00 mark. The Roadrunners trimmed the margin to two, but couldn't get any closer until 4:51 on the clock when Burrage hit a jumper to pull UTSA within, 61-60, but Shaw drained a jumper on the Aggies' ensuing possession and USU hung on for its conference-opening win.
ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND, KEEP THEM AGGIES ROLAND
Junior guard TeNale Roland had his streak of scoring in double-figures halted at three after posting nine against Texas State, but prior to his three-game spurt, Roland had scored in double-digits in only two of the previous 25 games. Roland capped his three-game spurt with 12 points at UT Arlington, including tying a career-best with three three-pointers for the second time in the last three games. The junior guard has also pulled down five or more rebounds in three of the last four games after only having one five rebound outing in the previous 25 games. He snared five boards in the Illinois State game, then collected a career-high seven rebounds at LA Tech before posting five at UTA. Roland has also topped his career-high for minutes played in each of the last two games, playing 30 minutes at Louisiana Tech and all 40 minutes at UT Arlington. His other two double-digit scoring outings game with 12 points in the victory at Seattle, netting 5-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and adding four assists, and with 11 vs. UC Davis.
Roland has made at least one three-pointer in 16 games, including each of the last six games. He has seven games with multiple three-pointers, netting a season-high three tryes both against Illinois State and at UT Arlington. Roland also drained back-to-back crucial three-pointers at Idaho as part of his eight points. Roland is 14th in WAC only three-point field goal percentage (.362)
Roland is averaging 7.8 ppg on 93 points in 12 road games, scoring eight or more points in six games, compared to averaging 3.9 ppg on 67 points in 17 home games, netting eight or more points three times.
On the flip side, Roland is averaging 1.3 assists per game on the road on 16 assists in 12 road games, dishing out a road-season high four assists at Seattle, while posting 2.5 apg on 43 assists in 17 home games, including his season-high seven vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Overall, Roland is averaging 2.0 apg.
SMOOTH AS BUTTER AS A STARTER
Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield returned to the Aggies' lineup in the Texas State game on March 7 after missing the game at UT Arlington on March 2 with an injury. Butterfield has filled in splendidly at starter for forward Danny Berger, as Butterfield has seven double-doubles, most recently with 20 rebounds and 10 points against Texas State on March 7. Butterfield's 20 rebounds in the Aggies' win over Texas State on March 7 was not only the most by a USU player since 1997, it was also the most by a WAC player this season, bettering the previous mark of 18 boards, done by three other players in WAC games and four other players overall. Additionally, the 20 rebounds were tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA this season, as Butterfield becomes the 12th player to do so.
Butterfield had a streak of five double-doubles in a row from Jan. 24 to Feb. 8, having his spurt halted with 16 points and six rebounds in the Denver game on Feb. 14, adding three assists and two steals, but bounced back to register 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal against NMSU and then his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and 14 rebounds at BYU, adding five assists and one steal. He posted 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the win over Illinois State, then posted seven points, six rebounds and one assist at LA Tech before leaving the game with an injury and he did not play in the UT Arlington game. Butterfield averages 11.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He started his spurt of five double-doubles in a row with a career-high 23 points and added a then-career-best 11 rebounds against UT Arlington, then posted 16 points and a new career-high with 15 rebounds in home loss to LA Tech. Butterfield logged 11 points and 10 rebounds at Idaho, then posted 13 points and 11 boards at Seattle before 22 points and 10 rebounds at SJSU.
Butterfield now has 17 double-digit scoring outings in the last 22 games, and has also pulled down four or more rebounds in each of the last 14 games.
Butterfield has filled in splendidly at starting forward for Danny Berger, as Butterfield has scored 295 points in 22 games as a starter, averaging 13.4 ppg as a starter after averaging 5.0 ppg in the first five games of the season off the bench. Butterfield took over the team lead in three-pointers from Preston Medlin, as Butterfield now has 43 made three-pointers (43-of-105), and is also first on the team in three-point percentage, making 41.0 percent behind the arc.
The sharpshooting junior has made a three-pointer in 21 of his last 23 games and has 12 multi three-pointer games, including a season-high four treys each against UTA and UC Davis, adding three at Texas State, Seattle and San Jose State. Butterfield also dished out a career-high nine assists at Texas State, USU's highest by an individual this season, as part of his 13 games with three or more helpers, doing so in four of the last six games with three against Denver and five each against NMSU and BYU, and then seven against Texas State in his return to action.
Butterfield leads the WAC in free throw percentage both overall (.829) and league only games (.844). Butterfield ranks 11th in the WAC in scoring overall (11.9), while ranking ninth in league games (13.3). He also is fourth in the league in overall three-point field goal percentage (.410), while ranking sixth in conference games (.394), in addition to ninth in overall three-pointers made (1.59) and 10th in WAC only games (1.63). Butterfield also ranks sixth in field goal percentage overall (.487) and ninth in league games (.490), as well as seventh in rebounds overall (6.8) and eighth in league contests (7.9), in addition to 14th in the WAC overall in assists (2.63) and tied for 11th in WAC only (3.06).
TEXAN CHAIN-SHAW ATTACK
Junior center Jarred Shaw logged his team-leading ninth double-double Thursday against Texas State with a team-high 15 points to go with 10 rebounds. It was his 11th game in a row in double-figure points and his 24th game total.
Shaw netted double-figures in both games last weekend, tallying 14 points to share the team lead at Louisiana Tech and then adding 11 points at UT Arlington as the Dallas, Texas native returned to his hometown area. Shaw also pulled down eight rebounds in each of the two games. By going 5-of-5 at the free throw line Saturday at UTA, Shaw was perfect at the charity stripe for the second game in a row as he was 6-of-6 at the free throw line on Thursday at LA Tech and it was the fifth time this season that he has made all his shots from the free pitch line, also going 2-of-2 against Weber State (Nov. 24) and 3-of-3 at Idaho (Jan. 31).
Shaw has a team-leading nine double-doubles this season, also logging a double-double in the win over Illinois State with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He also tallied double-digit points with 14 points at LA Tech, adding eight rebounds. He also added a 13-point outing at BYU, which came after posting game highs of 24 points versus New Mexico State and 18 points against Denver, just missing another double-double with nine rebounds against DU and eight boards each vs. NMSU and at BYU. The Denver game was the fourth game this season in which Shaw has missed a double-double by one rebound. In the three-game road win streak, Shaw posted 12 points at SJSU, after he tallied a game-high 16 points at Seattle to go with seven rebounds, and that game came on the heels of his career-high 27 points at Idaho, topping the 20-point mark for the second game in a row.
Shaw has led USU in scoring in 11 games this season, while topping the team in the rebounding category in 17 games, leading the team in both instances. He has at least one blocked shot in 19 games, including six games with multiple blocks, highlighted by a career-high four blocks in the LA Tech home game.
Shaw currently has a season average of 8.4 rebounds per game (243 rebounds in 29 games), which is the highest single-season rebounding mark since Eric Franson in 1995-96 with 8.5 rpg (282 rebounds in 33 games).
Shaw is ranked 49th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.540), as well as 68th in double-doubles (9.0) and 77th in rebounds per game (8.4). In the WAC stats, Shaw is fourth in overall field goal percentage (.540), while ranking sixth in conference only games (.528), as well as seventh in overall scoring (14.1) and tied for sixth in league games (14.5). He also is fourth in the league in rebounding both overall (8.4) and conference games (8.0), in addition to ninth in overall blocks (1.00) and tied for 10th in conference games (0.82)
DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING AND DIME-DROPPING DAVIS
Freshman guard Marcel Davis has nine double-figure scoring games this season, most recently with 12 points against Texas State on Thursday, which followed a team-high 15 Saturday at UT Arlington. He has just missed two more postings with nine points against both New Mexico State and Illinois State.
Davis has distributed at least four assists in 13 of the last 22 games. Included in that stretch are his new season-high of eight helpers against Illinois State along with two games of his previous season-high seven assists, doing so against Nicholls State and Seattle while dishing out six at Texas State as well as in home games against Denver and New Mexico State. Davis now has 83 assists in his 23 games as a starter, averaging 3.6 helpers per game during that stretch, after totaling 10 assists in the first five games of the season off the bench (2.0 apg). For the season, Davis leads USU in assists with 3.2 apg.
Davis is tied for sixth in the WAC in assist-turnover ratio overall (1.50) and 12th in league only (1.47). Davis also is ninth in overall assists (3.21) and fifth in league games (3.71).
CLIFFORD THE BIG BLUE AGGIE
With the recent injuries, sophomore forward Ben Clifford has the most playing time of any active player in an Aggie jersey, having now played in 65 games in his two-year career. Clifford has tied or set a new career-high of some sort in six of the last 12 games, posting a new career-high for points in two of those games, with 14 points each in the home game against Denver and at LA Tech, topping his previous career-best of 12 points against UT Arlington, while snaring a then-career rebounds (9) and posting a new career-best in blocks (4). He then topped his career-high in rebounds with 10 at Seattle, playing a new career-high 35 minutes as well. Clifford tied his career-high with 35 minutes at LA Tech and also pulled down nine rebounds.
After having just three blocks in the first 17 games of the season, Clifford now has at least one blocked shot in nine of the last 12 games, giving him 15 total during that span, as he had his career-high four rejections against UT Arlington on Jan. 24 to start the streak and recently had four blocks against Texas State on March 7.
Clifford is tied with Shaw for 10th in WAC only games for blocks (0.82).
Clifford has scored in double figures four times this season, including three in the last seven games, netting 13 points against Texas State on March 7, as part of his eight total times in his Aggie career. Clifford also has grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times this season and 23 times in his career, including most recently with six against Texas State.
JEAN MACHINE
In starting for injured starting guard Preston Medlin, junior guard/forward Marvin Jean has stepped up, netting a USU career-high 14 points at Denver and then 11 points vs. UT Arlington and at BYU, then adding 10 points vs. Illinois State. Jean also hit a season-high four three-pointers at Denver, adding three against UTA, as part of his 10 games with multiple three-pointers, including most recently with two in the Illinois State game. Jean has posted five or more points in eight of the last 10 games, as part of his 88 points in the last 13 games as a starter (6.8 ppg). Jean also has four or more rebounds in 12 games this season, including seven of the last 11.
Jean also swiped a career-high four steals at Seattle, and has tallied at least one steal in each of the last four games. He has also tied his career-high of four assists in four different games, including against BYU and Illinois State. He also swatted a career-high three blocks in two different games, first against UTA after totalling just two in the previous 18 games, and then three at LA Tech.
Jean is 14th in the WAC for overall three-point field goal percentage (.363), highlighted by netting a combined 7-of-13 (.538) in game at Denver and home against UTA.
STONE LIKE A ROCK
Sophomore center Jordan Stone made his first start of the season and third of his career in the Texas State game on March 7, and tallied six points, six rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist.
Stone had a huge night against BYU, as he set four new season highs, as well as set or tying four career-best marks. Stone recorded new season-high nine points, tying his career-high, while also posting new career-bests with two assists and four blocks in a career-best 25 minutes. Stone bettered his previous season high of six points, done twice this season, against UT Arlington and New Mexico State. His previous season-high was one assist, also done twice, at Santa Clara and against UTA. He has blocked one shot in four other games this season, including the previous two, against Denver and NMSU, while his previous high for minutes was 20, done twice in the previous three games, against SJSU and NMSU.
Stone matched his previous career-high of nine points, scored against Louisiana Tech on March 8, 2012, while he had one assist in five previous occasions, doing so three times as a freshman. Stone had accomplished his previous career-best mark of one block a total of eight previous games before breaking through with four rejections at BYU. He also topped his previous career-high for minutes of 23 minutes in game at Pacific last season on Dec. 3, 2011.
In the last eight games, Stone has snared at least three rebounds in each game, highlighted by a season-high seven against New Mexico State, adding five each against Illinois State, at UT Arlington, before posting six against Texas State. Stone also shared the team-lead in assists at UTA, marking the first time this season that he has done so, tying his career-high with two assists for the third time both this season and of his career. Stone also swiped one steal at UTA and at home against TXST, tying his season-high for the third time and his career-high for the fifth time.
A LOOK BACK AT THE TEXAS STATE GAME
Utah State had four players score in double-figures led by junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield's 10 points and 20 rebounds in its 77-61 Western Athletic Conference home win against Texas State here Thursday as USU recorded its 14th straight 20-win season. Utah State is now 20-9 on the season with the win, including a 10-7 WAC record. Texas State falls to 9-21 and 4-13 in league play with the loss. Overall, USU is one of just six teams nationally to win 20-plus games in each of the last 14 seasons along with Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas and Syracuse. In all, it is the 28th time in school history USU has won 20 games in a single season. Butterfield, who added seven assists in the game, recorded his seventh double-double of the season as his 20 rebounds are the most by an Aggie since Dec. 20, 1997 when Donnie Johnson had 20 boards in a home win against Long Island. Junior center Jarred Shaw posted his ninth double-double of the season for Utah State as he finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore forward Ben Clifford scored 13 points to go along with six rebounds, while tying his career-highs in both assists and blocked shots with four each. Freshman point guard Marcel Davis also scored in double-figures with 12 points and a career-best five steals. Utah State swiped a season-high 11 steals Thursday night, bettering the 10 swipes that the Aggies had in the last meeting with Texas State, on Dec. 31, 2012 at San Marcos. Vonn Jones led Texas State with 19 points off the bench, scoring all of his points in the second half. Jones was the only double-digit scorer for the Bobcats. Utah State finished the game shooting 41.4 percent (24-of-58), including 25.0 percent from three-point range (5-of-20) and 80.0 percent at the free throw line (24-of-30). Texas State shot just 33.9 percent (19-of-56), including 30.4 percent from three (7-of-23) and 72.7 percent at the line (16-of-22). USU also out-rebounded TXST by 17 (47-30), which lead to a 16-5 advantage in second-chance points. USU also had four more assists (19-15) and five more blocked shots (8-5), while both teams finished with 19 turnovers. Utah State scored the first six points of the game on consecutive three-pointers by Davis and junior guard Marvin Jean and built its advantage to 21-6 at the 9:12 mark following another Jean jumper. USU eventually led by as many as 23 in the first half at 34-11 with 0:48 remaining after a layup by sophomore center Matt Lopez, before Texas State scored the final four points to make the score 34-15 at intermission. In the first half, Utah State shot 41.9 percent (13-of-31), including 25.0 percent from three-point range (3-of-12) and 83.3 percent at the free throw line (5-of-6). Texas State shot just 17.4 percent (4-of-23), including 77.8 percent at the free throw line (7-of-9), while going 0-of-7 from behind the arc. In the first-half, USU held the Bobcats without a field goal for 10:44 as it missed 11 straight attempts before making its final two baskets. Utah State began the second-half on a 7-2 run to go ahead 41-16 and took its largest lead of the game at 46-20 with 13:47 remaining following a three-pointer from junior guard TeNale Roland. Texas State answered with an 11-2 run to get within 48-31, but USU scored the next seven points to lead 55-31 at the 9:43 mark on a Shaw jumper. USU maintained its 20-point advantage and led 65-45 with 4:37 to play only to see TXST score 16 of the next 22 points to close to within 10 at 71-61 with 1:19 remaining. USU, however, made all six of its free throws in the final 73 seconds as it finished the game on a 6-0 run to post the 77-61 victory.
DOUBLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield and junior center Jarred Shaw both registered double-doubles in the same game for the second time this season in the game against Texas State on March 7. Butterfield registered a new career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Shaw logged 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The duo also both recorded double-doubles against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 24, with Butterfield tallying 16 points and a then-career-high 15 rebounds while Shaw logged a then-career-high 21 points to go with 14 rebounds.
The Aggies have now had two players log double-doubles in the same game a total of three times this season as Shaw and senior forward Kyisean Reed posted double-doubles in the Nicholls State game on Dec. 20, with Reed tallying 20 points and 12 rebounds while Shaw recorded 19 points and 11 boards.
REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND
• Utah State's 47 rebounds Thursday were its second-most in WAC play and its third-most overall of the season behind its season-high 50 against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 26.
• It was the 12th time this season that USU has snared 40 or more rebounds.
• USU improves to 17-8 when out-rebounding its opponent, having done so in each of the last 13 games.
DEFENSE DOMINATES
• The 15 points allowed to Texas State in the first half were the fewest by USU's defense since 15 by Louisiana Tech on March 5, 2011 in the Aggies' 72-30 win.
• Utah State's 11 steals Thursday night were a season-high, bettering the 10 swipes that the Aggies had in the last meeting with Texas State, on Dec. 31, 2012 at San Marcos.
• USU's eight blocks Thursday were its most in a WAC game this season and ties its second-most of the season, matching the eight rejections at BYU on Feb. 19, and behind its season-high nine blocks against Nicholls State on Dec. 20.
OFFENSE SHINES BRIGHT
• Utah State's 19 assists Thursday were its 15th game with 15 or more helpers.
• The Aggies also improve to 17-2 when shooting better from the field than their opposition.
• USU's 77 points were its most in a WAC game since scoring 77 in 77-67 win at Idaho on Jan. 31 and most since 80 against Illinois State on Feb. 23 in the ESPNU BracketBusters game in 80-71 win.
BUTTERFIELD SHINES IN RETURN
• Junior guard/forward Spencer Butterfield returned to the Aggie lineup after missing their last game with an injury, and pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds, which are the most by an Aggie since Dec. 20, 1997 when Donnie Johnson had 20 boards in a home win against Long Island.
• Butterfield also had 10 points for his seventh double-double of the season, just missing a triple-double with seven assists, his third game with seven or more helpers behind his career-high nine that he dished out at Texas State on Dec. 31, 2012.
• Butterfield has now led the team in rebounding in nine games.
SHAW POSTS BALANCED GAME
• Junior center Jarred Shaw registered his ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• Butterfield and Shaw have seven and nine double-digit rebounding games, respectively, which have led to all of their double-doubles.
• Shaw posted double figures for the 24th time this season, and has led the team in scoring 11 times now.
• With one dunk Thursday, Shaw now has 13 throwdowns this year, narrowing the gap on team-leader Kyisean Reed's 15 rim-rocks.
• Shaw also took a charge Thursday, his fifth charge taken this season.
CLIFFORD MATCH CAREER-HIGHS FOR BLOCKS AND ASSISTS
• Sophomore forward Ben Clifford tied a career-high for the second time this season and third time in his career with four blocks Thursday.
• Clifford also tied his career-high with four assists, marking the fourth time for his career.
DOUBLE-DIGIT DAVIS
• Freshman guard Marcel Davis scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season with 12 points Thursday.
• Davis also set a new career-high with five steals Thursday.
• Davis also tied his career-high of two steals for the seventh time this season.
• Davis netted two three-pointers for the second game in a row and was the fifth game with multiple three-pointers.
OTHER NOTES FROM TEXAS STATE GAME
• Utah State now leads the series with Texas State, 2-0, as Thursday was the Bobcats' first-ever visit to Logan. USU sweeps the season series, first meeting on Dec. 31, 2012 in San Marcos, with Utah State winning 81-57. The Aggies are in their eighth and final season in the Western Athletic Conference, while the Bobcats are in their first and last season in the WAC, before joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.
• The Aggies are now 27-12 (.684) all-time against teams from the state of Texas and USU is 15-3 (.824) in home games against teams from Texas.
• Sophomore center Jordan Stone made his first start of the season and third of his career.
• Junior guard TeNale Roland tied his career-high with three steals for the second time this season.
UTAH STATE TRENDS
Utah State is ... 17-0 when leading at halftime; 1-8 when trailing at halftime; 2-1 when tied at halftime; 17-2 when shooting better from the field; 3-7 when shooting worse than opponent from field; 13-3 when shooting better from three-point range; 7-6 when shooting worse from three-point range; 15-4 when shooting better from the free throw line; 17-8 when out-rebounding the opponent; 3-1 when getting out-rebounded; 15-7 when committing more turnovers; 3-1 when committing fewer turnovers; 16-3 when having more assists; 14-4 when blocking more shots.
UTAH STATE AT THE HALF
Utah State is 17-0 when leading at half and has won 83 of its last 85 games (.976) when leading at the break. Over the last 13 years, USU is 290-25 (.921) when holding a lead at intermission. On the flip side, Utah State is 1-8 (.111) this year and 47-83 (.362) when trailing at the half under head coach Stew Morrill. The Aggies are 2-1 this season when tied at the break, losing the UTA game after being even at intermission.
UTAH STATE FROM THREE-POINT RANGE
Utah State has made at least one three-point basket in 227 straight games and the last time USU did not make a three-pointer in a game was on Dec. 16, 2006 in Provo as BYU defeated the Aggies, 75-62. USU entered that game having made at least one three-pointer in 127 games dating back to Dec. 14, 2002 when BYU held USU without a three-pointer in a 66-56 win in Provo.
UTAH STATE IN MARCH
Utah State is a palindromic 52-25 (.675) in the month of March under Morrill, which includes a 19-5 (.792) home record. The Aggies are 12-3 (.800) in games played on Saturday this season. USU is 145-55 (.725) in games played on Saturday under head coach Stew Morrill. The Aggies are 5-5 (.500) all-time in known games played on March 9.
UTAH STATE USUALLY WINS WHEN SCORING 70-PLUS POINTS
Utah State's magic number historically appears to be 70, as in 70 points. So far this season, USU is 14-0 this season when it scores 70 or more points in a game. Overall, USU has won 90 of its last 95 games (.947), when reaching 70 points and is 232-30 (.885) all-time under head coach Stew Morrill when scoring 70 points in a game. On the flip side, USU is 26-50 (.342) when scoring less than 60 points under Morrill.
USU VERY SUCCESSFUL WHEN HOLDING ITS OPPONENTS UNDER 60 POINTS
Utah State is 6-1 this season and has won 119 of its last 125 games (.952) when holding its opponents under 60 points. Overall, USU is 184-16 (.920) under Morrill when allowing fewer than 60 points in a game.
AGGIES OK IN OT
USU is now 2-1 this season in overtime, getting a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation from junior guard Preston Medlin both against Idaho on Jan. 5 and against Santa Clara on Nov. 28, before getting beat on a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the Denver game. USU has now won seven of its last nine extra session games and Utah State is 54-41 (.569) all-time in overtime games.
BUTTERING UP THE RECORD BOOKS
With five double-doubles in a row, Butterfield is tied for 10th in the USU record books for consecutive double-doubles, becoming one of three different Aggie players who have accomplished the streak of five in a row, doing so four different times, joining Bob Lauriski (1971-72) and Eric Franson with five each. Franson had two separate five-game streaks, one in 1993-94 and one in 1995-96. Butterfield is the only guard on USU's top 10 consecutive double-doubles list.
Consecutive Double-Doubles
Name Years Games
1. Marvin Roberts 1970-71 17
2. Marvin Roberts 1969-70 13
3. Shaler Halimon 1967-68 11
4. Greg Grant 1984-85 10
5. Mike Santos 1976-77 9
Mike Santos 1976-77 9
Ed Gregg 1975-76 9
8. Silas Mills 1994-95 6
Marvin Roberts 1968-69 6
10. Spencer Butterfield 2012-13 5
Eric Franson 1995-96 5
Eric Franson 1993-94 5
Bob Lauriski 1971-72 5
UTAH STATE PROBABLE STARTER NOTES
#0 Marcel Davis (6-2/180/FR/G/American Fork, Utah)
• Had breakout game against Western Oregon with 21 points in only 20 minutes, topping his previous single-game season high of eight points in three-pointers alone, draining his first of the season and finished with three on the night, and nearly doubling his season total of 11 points entering the game.
• The 21 points was the most scored by an Aggie this season at the time and was the first 20-point game for a USU freshman since Tai Wesley in 2008.
• Made first career start in Utah Valley game, tying game-high with 17 points, including a stretch where he scored 11 of USU's points in a row.
• Scored first career point as an Aggie with a free throw in the TAMU-Corpus Christi contest.
• Has nine double-figure scoring games this season, most recently with 12 points in Texas State game on Thursday, that came on the heels of a team-high 15 at UT Arlington on March 2.
• Has just missed two more postings with nine points against both New Mexico State and Illinois State.
• Has distributed at least four assists in 13 of the last 22 games... Included in that stretch are his new season-high of eight helpers against Illinois State along with two games of his previous season-high seven assists, doing so against Nicholls State and Seattle while dishing out six at Texas State as well as in home games against Denver and New Mexico State.
• Now has 83 assists in his 23 games as a starter, averaging 3.6 helpers per game during that stretch, after totaling 10 assists in the first five games of the season off the bench (2.0 apg)... For the season, leads USU in assists with 3.2 apg.
• Ranks tied for sixth in the WAC in assist-turnover ratio overall (1.50) and 12th in league only (1.47). Davis also is ninth in overall assists (3.21) and fifth in league games (3.71).
#1 Ben Clifford (6-7/220/SO/F/South Jordan, Utah)
• Has tied or set a new career-high of some sort in six of the last 12 games.
• Posted a new career-high for points in two of those games, with 14 points each in the home game against Denver and at LA Tech, topping his previous career-best of 12 points against UT Arlington, while snaring a then-career rebounds (9) and posting a new career-best in blocks (4)... Then topped his career-high in rebounds with 10 at Seattle, playing a new career-high 35 minutes as well... Tied his career-high with 35 minutes at LA Tech and also pulled down nine rebounds.
• After having just three blocks in the first 17 games of the season, now has at least one blocked shot in nine of the last 12 games, giving him 15 total during that span, as he had his career-high four rejections against UT Arlington on Jan. 24 to start the streak and matched that with four swats against Texas State on Thursday.
• Has scored in double figures five times this season, including three in the last six games, and a total of eight times in his career as an Aggie, most recently with 13 points against Texas State on Thursday.
• Also has grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times this season and 23 times in his career, including most recently with six against Texas State.
• Ranked tied 10th in WAC games for blocks (0.82).
#5 Jarred Shaw (6-11/245/JR/C/Dallas, Texas)
• Tallied career-highs in back-to-back games with 21 points against LA Tech and topping that with 27 points at Idaho.
• Has registered team-leading nine double-doubles, most recently with team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds in Texas State game on Thursday... Logged his other eight double-doubles against Saint Mary's (17 pts./15 reb.), Weber State (16p/12r), Utah Valley (12p/11r), Nicholls State (19p/11r) and back-to-back games against Idaho (12p/12r), San Jose State (12p/10r), LA Tech (21 p/14r) and Illinois State (18p/11r), just missing a double-double with one rebound shy four other times, most recently in Denver game with 18 points and nine rebounds.
• Has posted double-figure scoring a total of 24 times.
• Netted career-high 27 points at Idaho while posting career-best 15 rebounds in Saint Mary's game, career highs for both his USU career and his Oklahoma State career.
• Shaw's 15 rebounds in Saint Mary's game were the most by an Aggie player since Nate Bendall had 16 rebounds against Fresno State on Jan. 11, 2011.
• Has double-digit rebounds in nine games, posting his double-doubles all nine times.
• Led USU in rebounding in 17 games this season, including first five games of season... Has led team in scoring in 11 games.
• Set a new career-high with four blocked shots in LA Tech game after not having a swat in any of the previous four games... Added three blocked shots in Weber State and Seattle games and has at least one rejection in 19 games.
• By going 5-of-5 at the free throw line at UTA on March 2, was perfect at the charity stripe for the second game in a row as he was 6-of-6 at the free throw line on Feb. 28 at LA Tech.
• Shaw currently has a season average of 8.4 rebounds per game (243 rebounds in 29 games), which is the highest single-season rebounding mark since Eric Franson in 1995-96 with 8.5 rpg (282 rebounds in 33 games).
• Shaw is ranked 49th in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.540), as well as 68th in double-doubles (9.0) and 77th in rebounds per game (8.4).
• In the WAC stats, Shaw is fourth in overall field goal percentage (.540), while ranking sixth in conference only games (.528), as well as seventh in overall scoring (14.1) and tied for sixth in league games (14.5). He also is fourth in the league in rebounding both overall (8.4) and conference games (8.0), in addition to ninth in overall blocks (1.00) and tied for 10th in conference games (0.82)
#15 Marvin Jean (6-4/190/JR/F/Harriman, N.Y.)
• Has stepped up in replacing injured starting guard Preston Medlin, netting a career-high 14 points at Denver and then 11 points vs. both UT Arlington and BYU, as well as 10 vs. Illinois State.
• Also hit a season-high four three-pointers at Denver, adding three against UTA, as part of his 10 games with multiple three-pointers, including most recently with two in the Illinois State game.
• Has posted five or more points in seven of the last nine games, as part of his 88 points in the last 13 games as a starter (6.8 ppg).
• Also has four or more rebounds in 12 games this season, including seven of the last 12.
• Swiped a career-high four steals at Seattle, and has tallied at least one steal in each of the last five games.
• Also tied his career-high of four assists in four different games, including against BYU and Illinois State.
• Has swatted a career-high three blocks in two different games, first against UTA after totalling just two in the previous 18 games, and then three at LA Tech.
• Ranks 14th in the WAC for overall three-point field goal percentage (.363), highlighted by netting a combined 7-of-13 (.538) in game at Denver and home against UTA..
#21 Spencer Butterfield (6-3/205/JR/G/Loomis, Calif.)
• Named the WAC Player of the Week for Feb. 4-10.
• Missed the game at UTA due to an injury, but returned to action against Texas State with a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 points. The 20 rebounds was most by an Aggie player since 1997 and is the most in the WAC this season, as well as tied for the fifth-most in the NCAA this season.
• Has seven double-doubles on the season, most recently with a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 points in USU's win over Texas State on March. 7.
• Had streak of five-straight double-doubles earlier this season, halted with 16 points and six rebounds in Denver game, adding three assists and two steals, then tallying 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in NMSU game, but then posted sixth double-double of season with team-high 21 points and game-high 14 rebounds at BYU... Posted 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in the win over Illinois State, adding seven points, six rebounds and one assist in LA Tech game before leaving with injury and did not play at UT Arlington.
• Averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
• Started his spurt of five double-doubles in a row with a career-high 23 points and added a then-career-best 11 rebounds against UT Arlington, then posted 16 points and a new career-high with 15 rebounds in home loss to LA Tech. Butterfield logged 11 points and 10 rebounds at Idaho, then posted 13 points and 11 boards at Seattle before 22 points and 10 rebounds at SJSU.
• Now has 17 double-digit scoring outings in the last 22 games, and has also pulled down four or more rebounds in each of the last 13 games.
• Has filled in splendidly at starting forward for Danny Berger, as Butterfield has scored 295 points in 22 games as a starter, averaging 13.4 ppg as a starter after averaging 5.0 ppg in the first five games of the season off the bench.
• Leads the team in three-pointers, now has 43 made three-pointers (43-of-105), and is also first on the team in three-point percentage, making 41.0 percent behind the arc.
• The sharpshooting junior has made a three-pointer in 21 of his last 23 games and has 12 multi three-pointer games, including a season-high four treys each against UTA and UC Davis, adding three at Texas State, Seattle and San Jose State.
• Also dished out a career-high nine assists at Texas State, USU's highest by an individual this season, as part of his 13 games with three or more helpers, doing so in four of the last six games with three against Denver and five each against NMSU and BYU, and then seven against Texas State in his return to action.
• Leads the WAC in free throw percentage both overall (.829) and league only games (.844). Butterfield ranks 11th in the WAC in scoring overall (11.9), while ranking ninth in league games (13.3). He also is fourth in the league in overall three-point field goal percentage (.410), while ranking sixth in conference games (.394), in addition to ninth in overall three-pointers made (1.59) and 10th in WAC only games (1.63). Butterfield also ranks sixth in field goal percentage overall (.487) and ninth in league games (.490), as well as seventh in rebounds overall (6.8) and eighth in league contests (7.9), in addition to 14th in the WAC overall in assists (2.63) and tied for 11th in WAC only (3.06).
UTAH STATE PLAYERS OFF THE BENCH
#4 Matt Lopez (6-11/245/SO/C/Erial, N.J.)
• Saw his first action as an Aggie in Utah Valley game in his first game eligible after transferring from LaSalle last season at mid-year.
• Slammed onto the scene for the Aggies, logging his first basket in a USU uniform on a dunk... Ended with eight points, totalling two dunks..
• Added five points, and recorded first two blocks of USU career to go with one rebound against Nicholls State.
• Shared team lead in rebounding for first time this season with then-season-high four against Southern Illinois and matched that with four at Texas State, before bettering season-best with five against Seattle both at home and at Seattle.
• Added four points and three rebounds in Denver game, as well as three boards at home against UTA and at LA Tech, before pulling down four rebounds at UTA.
#20 TeNale Roland (6-0/170/JR/G/Louisville, Ky.)
• Tallied a new career-high with 13 points in the win over Illinois State, draining a career-best three three-pointers as part of 4-of-7 field goal shooting, making 3-of-6 behind the arc and also snaring a career-high tying five rebounds.
• Followed that up with 12 points and a career-best seven rebounds at LA Tech, adding two assists and then 12 points at UTA, tying career-high with three three-pointers and also pulled down five rebounds.
• Had his streak of scoring in double-figures halted at three after posting nine against Texas State, but prior to his three-game spurt, Roland had scored in double-digits in only two of the previous 25 games. Roland capped his three-game spurt with 12 points at UT Arlington, including tying a career-best with three three-pointers for the second time in the last three games.
• The junior guard has also pulled down five or more rebounds in three of the last four games after only having one five rebound outing in the previous 25 games. He snared five boards in the Illinois State game, then collected a career-high seven rebounds at LA Tech before posting five at UTA.
• Has also topped his career-high for minutes played, seeing 30 minutes of action at Louisiana Tech and all 40 minutes at UT Arlington.
• His other two double-digit scoring outings game with 12 points in the victory at Seattle, netting 5-of-9 field goals, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and adding four assists, and with 11 vs. UC Davis.
• Has made at least one three-pointer in 16 games, including each of the last six games. He has seven games with multiple three-pointers, netting a season-high three tryes both against Illinois State and at UT Arlington. Roland also drained back-to-back crucial three-pointers at Idaho as part of his eight points. Roland is 14th in WAC only three-point field goal percentage (.362)
• Is averaging 7.8 ppg on 93 points in 12 road games, scoring eight or more points in six games, compared to averaging 3.9 ppg on 67 points in 17 home games, netting eight or more points three times.
• On the flip side, is averaging 1.3 assists per game on the road on 16 assists in 12 road games, dishing out a road-season high four assists at Seattle, while posting 2.5 apg on 43 assists in 17 home games, including his season-high seven vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Overall, Roland is averaging 2.0 apg.
#25 Jordan Stone (6-10/270/SO/C/Smithfield, Utah)
• Had a career night against BYU, as he set four new season highs, as well as set or tying four career-best marks... Recorded new season-high nine points, tying his career-high, while also posting new career-bests with two assists and four blocks in a career-best 25 minutes.
• Logged six points and five rebounds with two assists in Illinois State game, adding three rebounds at LA Tech, along with three points and five rebounds at UTA, then notched six points, six rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist against TXST.
• Played in 58 career games, second most of any currently active Aggie player behind Ben Clifford.
• Has posted his season-high scoring output in NMSU and BYU games, as his nine points at BYU bettered his previous season-high of six points set against New Mexico State, and also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds against NMSU and was one rebound shy of tying his career-best eight, while playing a previous season-high 20 minutes.
• Snared six rebounds in Saint Mary's and home game against Texas State, five in UT Arlington game and four each at SJSU and vs. TAMU-Corpus Christi contests and has a total of 21 career games with three or more rebounds.
• Has 12 career games with five or more points, including adding five points in Saint Mary's and TAMU-Corpus Christi games.
• Came up big in Idaho home game, blocking one shot and snaring three rebounds in critical times, and then was huge in win at Idaho, scoring four points, including first dunk of season, and played a huge role in defensive success in last three road wins.
• Bettered his previous season high of six points, done twice this season, against UT Arlington and New Mexico State... Previous season-high was one assist, also done twice, at Santa Clara and against UTA... Had blocked one shot in four other games this season, including the previous two, against Denver and NMSU, while his previous high for minutes was 20, done twice in the previous three games, against SJSU and NMSU... Also tied career-high with two assists at UTA.
UTAH STATE INJURED PLAYERS
#12 Danny Berger (6-6/205/JR/F/Medford, Ore.)
Collapsed in practice on Dec. 4 from full cardiac arrest, but was released from Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on morning of Dec. 8 and was on the bench with his teammates that night... Will miss remainder of the season... Started last 10 games played and made 30th start in 35 career games played in Santa Clara game... Started this year's season-opener after sitting out last year's as part of the first six games as a potential redshirt... Scored in double-digits in 12 career games after netting season-high 11 at Santa Clara... Has three or more rebounds in each of last four games played, including season high five in two of last three games (TAMU-Corpus Christi, Santa Clara)... At time of medical situation, he ranked sixth in WAC in free throw percentage (.833), making 10-of-12 on season.
#13 Preston Medlin (6-4/185/JR/G/Carrollton, Texas)
Out with fractured wrist suffered in New Mexico State game on Jan. 17... Made 53rd consecutive start and played in 75th career game at NMSU contest... Needs 30 points to become 36th player in school history with 1,000... Led USU in scoring for the ninth time this season and 31th time in last two seasons with season-high 25 points against SJSU and then 14 against NMSU... Scored in double-figures 13 times this season and 44 times in his career... Has made at least one three-pointer in 19 of his last 21 games played... Has 46 career games with multiple three-pointers, including season-high five at Texas State, as well as four against UC Davis, and three in back-to-back games against Southern Illinois and UTSA, adding three against Idaho... Cracked into the USU top 10 for three-pointers made, now at No. 7 with 143 and maintained No. 5 spot on Aggies' career three-point shooting percentage at 41.3 percent, as well as moving into No. 7 on career three-point attempts list with 346... Ranks fourth in the WAC overall in scoring (16.3 ppg), while leading the league in conference only games (20.7 ppg). He also is second in the conference overall for free throw percentage (.818) while ranking seventh in WAC only games (.816). In three-point field goal percentage, Medlin is seventh in overall games (.393) and 14th in league only games (.395), as well as sixth in overall three-pointers made per game (2.06) and second in WAC only games (2.83). Medlin also leads the conference in minutes played both overall (36.06) and league only games (37.67).
#34 Kyisean Reed (6-6/215/SR/F/Palmdale, Calif.)
Out for remainder of season with torn ACL injury in knee suffered in New Mexico State game on Jan. 17... Played in 52 career games and made 43 career starts, but did not start in Santa Clara game... Scored in double-figures 27 times in his career including five of last nine games with season-high 21 points against Southern Illinois, which came two games after posting 20 points against Nicholls State and then posted his second double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds in Seattle game, adding 17 points against Idaho and 10 vs. SJSU... Recorded a blocked shot in 36 career contests, setting a new career-best with four rejections each against Nicholls State and San Jose State, adding three against Idaho... Has at least one blocked shot in 13 games this season and 17 of his last 21 career games played, including nine games with multiple blocks... Posted 30 career games with five or more rebounds, leading USU in rebounding five times this season... Climbed into Aggies top 10 career list for blocked shots, now at No. 7 with 69, and No. 3 on the USU career blocks per game list with 1.4 bpg... Also No. 4 on USU's career field goal percentage (.608)... Has swiped a career-high four steals twice this season (Saint Mary's and Santa Clara), adding three against WOU and Nicholls State... At time of injury, ranked 14th in the WAC in scoring both overall (12.1 ppg) and league games (11.3), while ranking 10th in overall rebounding (6.5 rpg) and tied for 11th in league only games (6.0). He also ranks second in overall field goal percentage (.582) while ranking fourth in league games (.553). Reed is sixth in the WAC in blocked shots both overall (1.75) and conference only games (1.67), as well as seventh in steals for both overall (1.63) and league games (1.5).
OTHER USU SEASON NOTES
NUMBER FIVE FOR THREE
Junior center Jarred Shaw not only attempted but made his first three-pointer of his USU career, with a trey from the top of the arc in the waning seconds of the first half at New Mexico State on Jan. 17. It was his first made three-pointer of his college basketball career and second attempted trey, with one three-point attempt during his freshman season at Oklahoma State.
350 USU WINS FOR COACH MORRILL
Utah State's win over Western Oregon was USU head coach Stew Morrill's 350th victory at the helm of the Aggie program and Morrill is now 365-128 (.740) at USU.
BUTTERFIELD NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK FEB. 11
Utah State's Spencer Butterfield has been named the Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 4-10, announced by the conference office. Butterfield, a junior forward from Loomis, Calif. (Del Oro HS/Yuba CC), posted his fifth-straight double-double with game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead USU to its palindromic 63-36 road win at San Jose State on Friday. He also added one steal and one assist in the victory. Butterfield's 22 points were one shy of his season-high 23 points, and came off a season-high nine made field goals on 9-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. Butterfield averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game heading into the match-up with San Jose State. He topped that average and nearly had a double-double in the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds, almost single-handedly matching SJSU's 16 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes. During USU's 25-2 run that broke the game open in the first half, Butterfield started the spurt with a three-pointer and later netted six of the last nine points in the streak for USU's 31-11 lead.
With five double-doubles in a row, Butterfield is now tied for 10th in the USU record books for consecutive double-doubles, becoming one of three different Aggie players who have accomplished the streak of five in a row, doing so four different times, joining Bob Lauriski (1971-72) and Eric Franson with five each. Franson had two separate five-game streaks, one in 1993-94 and one in 1995-96. Butterfield is the only guard on USU's top 10 consecutive double-doubles list. This is Butterfield's first career WAC Player of the Week accolade. It is USU's third WAC Player of the Week honor this season, joining senior forward Kyisean Reed on Dec. 23 and junior guard Preston Medlin on Jan. 7.
MEDLIN SHINES IN BEARD OUT
Junior guard Preston Medlin scored a season-high 25 points, including 16 in the second half, in the win over SJSU, which was declared a "Beard Out" by the USU students, with fans wearing beards to match Medlin's beard. Medlin's streak of 20-point games was halted at two in a row with only 14 at New Mexico State, but Medlin has hit for 20 or more points in five of the last eight games, and 19 times in his career. Against SJSU, he was 6-of-12 from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line, tying the single-game school record for free throw percentage. After not scoring more than 18 points in USU's first eight games of the season, Medlin has now scored 20 or more points in five of the Aggies' last eight games. Medlin tied a single-game school record in free throw-percentage as he went 11-11 from the charity stripe. It is the 30th time that an Aggie player has been perfect at the line with 10 or more attempts, and the first since Tai Wesley vs. Hawai'i on Dec. 29, 2010. Medlin's 11-of-11 effort is the ninth time that an Aggie player went 11-of-11, also first since Wesley. It was also a season-best in free throws made for Medlin and the third-most attempts and makes of his career, going 13-of-14 twice last season (vs. Hawai'i and vs. Loyola Marymount). It was also the second time in the last three games and eight games this season that he made all of his free throws and 19th time in his career. Medlin also dished out five helpers to his teammates for the fourth time this season and it was the 12th time in his career that he has dished out five or more assists.
MEDLIN LIVING UP TO PRESEASON WAC PLAYER OF YEAR BILLING
Junior guard Preston Medlin was named the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year and lived up to the billing in conference play, prior to breaking bone in wrist on Jan. 17 at NMSU and hasn't played since. Medlin posted 18 points, five assists and three steals in the win over Seattle, and adding a game-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds and two steals against Idaho. Medlin then scored a season-high 25 points, including 16 in the second half, in win over SJSU. For Medlin, it is the fifth time in his last seven games and 19th time in his career he has scored 20-plus points as he was 6-of-12 from the field, 2-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line, tying the single-game school record for free throw percentage. Medlin also added five assists in the game.
MEDLIN EARNS TRIO OF PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
Utah State men's basketball player Preston Medlin was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week, College Sports Madness WAC Player of the Week and America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete Of The Week for his performance during the period of Dec. 30-Jan. 6 in leading USU to three wins.
Medlin, a junior guard from Carrollton, Texas (Hebron HS), helped Utah State post a 3-0 WAC record last week with a road win at Texas State (81-57), and home wins against Seattle (75-66) and Idaho (82-75 OT). Against the Bobcats, Medlin scored 21 points to go along with six rebounds and one assist. Against the Redhawks, he had 18 points to go along with five assists and a season-high tying three steals. And against the Vandals, he scored 22 points and hit the tying three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime, where he scored nine of USU's 13 points. Medlin, who scored all but three of his points following intermission, added seven rebounds, two steals and one assist against Idaho. For the week, Medlin averaged 20.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 41.5 percent from the field (17-of-41), 41.7 percent from three-point range (10-of-24) and 73.9 percent at the free throw line (17-of-23). Medlin's three-pointer against Idaho marked the second time this year he has sent a contest into overtime as he hit the game-tying three-pointer at Santa Clara with 0:2.4. USU went on to win that game, 80-78.
This is Medlin's first WAC Player of the Week honor this season and second of his career, also collecting the accolade on Jan. 30, 2012. Medlin has earned the USU Student-Athlete of the Week honor for the third time this season, also earning the honor on Nov. 12 and Dec. 3. It is Medlin's seventh career USU honor, earning the award four times last season.
MVP, THREE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS FOR REED
Senior forward Kyisean Reed scored a season-high for the second time in three games with 21 points to earn Most Valuable Player honors of the 2012 Utah State hosted World Vision Challenge, sponsored by Gossner Foods. For the tournament, Reed averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in 31.3 minutes per outing, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field (16-28) and 78.3 percent at the free throw line (18-23). He topped his season-high twice, posting 20 points to go with a career-high 12 rebounds in the Nicholls State game only to net 21 points in the Southern Illinois contest.
Reed was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the Utah State America First Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week as well as the College Sports Madness WAC Player of the Week, all for the period of Dec. 16-23.
LOPEZ MAKES SLAMMING DEBUT
Junior center Matt Lopez slammed onto the scene for the Aggies, logging his first basket in a USU uniform on a dunk. Lopez saw his first action as an Aggie in his first game eligible after transferring from LaSalle last season at mid-year. For the game, Lopez ended with eight points, totalling two dunks.
GOING STREAKING
Utah State's 13-game win streak was its eighth win streak of at least 10 games under veteran head coach Stew Morrill and the fifth in the last six years, and ranking as the sixth-longest under Morrill, and the longest since the 2010-11 squad won 17-straight.
19 (2) - 1999-2000, 2008-09
17 (3) - 2003-04, 2009-10, 2010-11
13 (1) - 2012-13
12 (1) - 2000-01
10 (1) - 2007-08
LEAVING STREAKS IN THE RECORD BOOK
USU's 13-game win streak also tied for the sixth-longest in school history along with the 1974-75 team.
19 (2) - 1999-2000, 2008-09
17 (3) - 2003-04, 2009-10, 2010-11
13 (2) - 1974-75, 2012-13
12 (2) - 1959-60, 2000-01
11 (2) - 1966-67, 1970-71
10 (1) - 2007-08
MEDLIN FOR 1,000 PLEASE, ALEX
Junior guard Preston Medlin is 30 points away from being the answer to the Jeopardy question, who is the recent member of the USU 1,000 Points Scored Club, as Medlin currently has 970 career points. He has played in 75 career games, for a 12.9 career points per game career average. Medlin would become the 36th player in USU history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau, and the first since former teammate Tyler Newbold (2008-11), who is at No. 33 on the list with 1,014 career points. Another former teammate, Tai Wesley (2008-11) is at No. 8 with 1,749 points.
MEDLIN RANKS FIFTH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Junior guard Preston Medlin is shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range (143-346) during his Utah State career to rank fifth all-time in school history for three-point percentage, as well as climbing up the top 10 for three-pointers made, moving up to No. 7 with 134, passing former teammate Brian Green (2010-11) with 129, as well as becoming just the 10th player with 300 or more career three-point attempts, moving up to tie for No. 8 with 340.
REED RANKED IN CAREER FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
By recently making his 150th career made field goal, senior forward Kyisean Reed has cracked into the USU career field goal percentage list, and now has a 60.2 career field goal percentage (206-of-342), holding down the No. 4 spot.
REED SWATS WAY INTO TOP 10 BLOCKED SHOT LIST
Senior forward Kyisean Reed has also climbed his way into the USU top 10 blocks shots career list, now with 69 rejections, moving up to the No. 7 spot. Reed has qualified for the blocks per game average, playing in his 50th career game against Idaho, and he currently has his 69 blocks in 52 career games played, a 1.3 blocks per game average, ranking him third on USU's career blocks per game list.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is 347-112 (.757) during the last 13 seasons which ranks as the fourth-best winning percentage and sixth-most wins in the nation during that time period. Furthermore, USU has averaged 25.4 wins during the last 13 seasons.
AGGIES HAVE THREE PLAYERS FROM THE STATE OF UTAH
Aggie players from the state of Utah include sophomore forward Ben Clifford (South Jordan/Bingham HS), sophomore center Jordan Stone (Smithfield/Sky View HS) and freshman guard Marcel Davis (American Fork/American Fork HS).
USU TO PLAY IN EIGHT DIFFERENT STATES AND THREE TIME ZONES IN 2012-13
Utah State will have regular-season games in eight different states and three time zones, as all 19 of its home games will be played in the Mountain Time Zone, along with road games at BYU (Dec. 5-ppd/Feb. 19), at Utah Valley (Dec. 15), at New Mexico State (Jan. 17) and at Denver (Jan. 19). USU will play in the Central Time Zone three times: at Texas State (Dec. 31), at Louisiana Tech (Feb. 28) and at UT Arlington (March 2). The Aggies have four games in the Pacific Time Zone: at Santa Clara (Nov. 28), at Idaho (Jan. 31), at Seattle (Feb. 2) and at San Jose State (Feb. 8).
AGGIES TO PLAY TEAMS FROM 10 DIFFERENT STATES
Utah State will play team from 10 different states, with California and Texas leading the way with four each, as well as three from Utah and two apiece from Idaho and Louisiana, along with one each from five different states:
California - 4
vs. Saint Mary's - Nov. 15
at Santa Clara - Nov. 28
vs. UC Davis - Dec. 21
San Jose State - Jan. 11, Feb. 8Colorado - 1
Denver - Jan. 19, Feb. 14
Idaho - 2
vs. Idaho State - Nov. 10
Idaho - Jan. 5, Jan. 31
Illinois - 1
vs. Southern Illinois - Dec. 22
Louisiana - 2
vs. Nicholls State - Dec. 20
Louisiana Tech - Jan. 26, Feb. 28
New Mexico - 1
New Mexico State - Jan. 17, Feb. 16
Oregon - 1
vs. Western Oregon - Dec. 8
Texas - 4
vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi - Nov. 17
UTSA - Dec. 29, March 9
Texas State - Dec. 31, March 7
UT Arlington - Jan. 24, March 2
Utah - 3
vs. Weber State - Nov. 24
at BYU - Dec. 5-ppd/Feb. 19
at Utah Valley - Dec. 15
Washington - 1
Seattle - Jan. 3, Feb. 2
USU TO FACE THREE IN-STATE FOES THIS SEASON
Utah State will face three in-state teams this season, hosting one of them and playing at the other two. The Aggies will host Weber State on Saturday, Nov. 24 and play at Utah Valley on Saturday, Dec. 15 and at Brigham Young on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
SEVEN AGGIE NEWCOMERS MOST SINCE 2008-09
Utah State has seven newcomers on the 2012-13 roster, which are the most since 2008-09, when USU had eight newcomers.
AGGIES TO FACE SIX TEAMS WITH 2012 POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE THIS SEASON
Utah State's 2012-13 schedule includes six teams that participated in postseason play last season. Highlighting the Aggies' non-conference schedule will be a home game against Saint Mary's, the defending West Coast Conference champions and an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, as well as a home game against in-state foe Weber State, who played in last year's Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament. Two of the six teams are in-state, as they'll travel south to take on Brigham Young, an NCAA Tournament participant, and Utah Valley, who played in last season's Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament after winning its second-straight Great West Conference regular-season championship. USU's eighth and final season in the WAC will also include two postseason teams, facing defending conference champion and NCAA Tournament participant New Mexico State as well as WAC-newcomer UT Arlington, who played in last year's National Invitational Tournament after winning the Southland Conference regular-season title.
HEAD COACH Stew Morrill NOTES
THE MORRILL COACHING TREE
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill currently has five former assistants who are head coaches at the Division I level in Jeff Jackson (Furman), Randy Rahe (Weber State), Dave Rice (UNLV), Blaine Taylor (Old Dominion) and Don Verlin (Idaho), which is tied for the fifth-most in the nation among active coaches. Arizona State's Herb Sendek and Louisville's Rick Pitino each have eight assistants who are current head coaches, followed by Mike Montogmery (California) with seven, Billy Donovan (Florida) with six, and Stew Morrill (Utah State), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), John Calipari (Kentucky) and Trent Johnson (TCU) all with five.
MORRILL HAS COACHED 15 FIRST-TEAM ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS AT UTAH STATE
Utah State head coach Stew Morrill has coached 14 first-team all-league players who have won the award a total of 20 times in his 13 years at Utah State. Those players are Shawn Daniels (twice), Troy Rolle, Bernard Rock, Tony Brown, Desmond Penigar (twice), Mark Brown, Cardell Butler, Nate Harris (three times), Spencer Nelson, Jaycee Carroll (twice), Gary Wilkinson, Jared Quayle, Tai Wesley (twice), Brockeith Pane and Preston Medlin.
MORRILL NAMED 2011 JIM PHELAN NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Utah State men's basketball coach Stew Morrill was named the 2011 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year at the Final Four in Houston. Named after legendary Mount St. Mary's head coach Jim Phelan, who won over 800 games and coached in more contests than any in college basketball history, the award is presented annually to the top coach in America by CollegeInsider.com. The honor is voted upon by a distinguished group of coaches, media members and athletic administrators. Other finalists for the award included Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Rick Byrd (Belmont), Jamie Dixon (Pittsburgh), Billy Donavan (Florida), Steve Fisher (San Diego State), Greg Kampe (Oakland), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Steve Lavin (St. John's), Thad Matta (Ohio State), Sean Miller (Arizona), Matt Painter (Purdue), Rick Pitino (Louisville), Dave Rose (BYU), Bill Self (Kansas) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).
-USU-
Junior guard and Texas native Preston Medlin netted a season-high 24 points while fellow junior, guard/forward Spencer Butterfield tied his season-high with 14 points to lead Utah State men's basketball to a 71-67 win over UTSA Saturday night at UTSA's Convocation Center in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
