Complete Release

Preseason All-Mountain West

Utah State had two players named to various preseason Mountain West awards, including freshman guard Koby McEwen as the Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year and senior wing Jalen Moore to the Preseason all-Mountain West team.

All-Mountain West Media

Utah State had two players named to various all-conference teams by the media in senior wing Jalen Moore (second team) and Koby McEwen (third team). McEwen was also a unanimous selection for Freshman of the Year.

All-Mountain West

Moore and McEwen also earned all-Mountain West honors as awarded by the coaches. Moore was named second team and McEwen was named honorable mention.

Moore Post-Season Accolades

Moore also garnered two other post-season accolades, as he was named second-team all-District 17 by the NABC and all-District VIII by the USBWA.

Freshman of the Year

McEwen proved the prognosticators right by earning MW Freshman of the Year honors. McEwen led all freshmen in the league with 14.9 points and 31.3 minutes per game. McEwen finished second among freshmen in the league with 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

Freshman Year in Context

Freshman guard Koby McEwen’s averages of 14.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game are the most for a USU freshman since All-American Jaycee Carroll averaged 14.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2004-05. Carroll finished his career No. 1 all-time in career points (2,522) and No. 12 in career rebounds (680).

Freshman Scoring Records

Freshman guard Koby McEwen matched Jaycee Carroll’s freshman single-game scoring record of 28 against UNLV (1/7). In all, McEwen scored 20 or more points seven times this season, tying Carroll’s best of seven during his freshman season.

Freshmen Scoring in tandem

Freshmen guards Koby McEwen and Sam Merrill scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, at San José State, marking the first time that a pair of freshmen have each scored 20 or more points in a game in Utah State history.

Dynamic Duo

McEwen and Merrill set several freshmen records as a duo, scoring more points (744) and logging more assists (194) and steals (53) than any other freshman combination in school history.

Seasoned Freshman

Freshman guard Sam Merrill led all freshmen in the Mountain West with 3.3 assists per game and led the MW and was seventh in the nation with an assist/turnover ratio of 3.27, fourth best in a single season in USU history.

Seasoned Freshman Part II

Freshman guard Koby McEwen led all freshmen in the Mountain West  in scoring with 14.9 points per game. McEwen was second among freshmen with 3.1 assists per game and 5.1 rebounds per game.

All-time Results

Utah State has an overall record of 1,566-1,091 (.589) in its 2,657 games played.

Long Range Bombers

Utah State has hit at least one 3-point basket in 359 consecutive games, stretching back to Dec. 16, 2006.

Strong Second Halves

Freshman guard Koby McEwen was a star contributor in the second half for Utah State during the first four games of conference play, scoring the most points of anyone on the floor during the final 20 minutes. McEwen logged 24 points against UNLV, 17 points against both Boise State and Air Force, and 16 points against New Mexico. Overall, McEwen shot 63.6 percent (21-of-33) from the floor, 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from behind the 3-point line and 88.0 percent (22-of-25) at the free throw line over the final 20 minutes of the first four games of USU’s MW slate.

McEwen exploded again in the second half in Utah State’s victories over Fresno State and Nevada, scoring 15 of his 22 points against the Bulldogs and 19 of his 26 points against the Wolf Pack during the final 20 minutes.

Throwing up the Free Throws

Freshman guard Koby McEwen’s 16 free throw attempts against New Mexico (1/4) were the most since Tai Wesley attempted 16 against Hawai’i on Jan. 3, 2008. McEwen’s 12 makes from the line were the most since Chris Smith hit 11 at Colorado State on Jan. 16, 2016.

We’re Going to Overtime

Utah State is 56-45 all-time in overtime contests. The Aggies picked up an 80-79 overtime victory at Utah Valley on Dec. 10, marking the first overtime contest for the Aggies since the 2014-15 season.

Back-to-Back Starts

Head coach Tim Duryea is just the second coach in USU history to start each of his first two seasons 3-0, joining D.D. Young (1943, 1945).

Undefeated in the First Round

Utah State moved to 3-0 all-time in the first round of the Mountain West Championships with its 90-64 victory over San José State.

Long Range Leaders

Utah State led all Mountain West teams in league play behind the 3-point line, shooting 39.2 percent (142-of-362) from long range. Senior wing Jalen Moore was second in the MW in league play, shooting 42.6 percent (40-of-94) from deep. Freshman guard Koby McEwen was third, shooting 42.5 percent (37-of-87) from behind the 3-point arc.

Winning with the Long Ball

Utah State was 13-7 this season and is 25-12 under head coach Tim Duryea when outshooting opponents from behind the 3-point line.

Furthermore, Utah State was 6-2 this season and is 13-6 under Duryea when making 10 or more 3s in a game.

Winning Offensively

Utah State was 14-5 this season and is 28-7 under head coach Tim Duryea when scoring 70 or more points in a game.

Winning Defensively

Utah State was 9-5 this season and is 19-5 under head coach Tim Duryea when holding opponents to less than 69 points.

Winning at the Half

Utah State was 10-2 this season and is 26-6 under head coach Tim Duryea when leading at the half.

Winning On the Glass

Utah State was 12-6 this season and is 25-9 under head coach Tim Duryea when outrebounding the opposition.

Winning When Sharing the Ball

Utah State was 11-4 this season and is 23-8 under head coach Tim Duryea when recording 15 or more assists in a game.

Furthermore, Utah State was 5-0 this season and is 9-0 under Duryea when recording 20 or more assists in a game.

Winning Without Fouling

Utah State was 8-2 this season and is 16-8 under head coach Tim Duryea when committing fewer fouls than its opposition.

Marathon Man

Senior wing Jalen Moore was second in the Mountain West in minutes played, averaging 35.5 minutes per game overall and 36.8 minutes per game in league play.

Moore’s Streak

Senior wing Jalen Moore scored in double figures in 34 consecutive games dating back to last season, marking the seventh-longest streak in Utah State history.

Three Year Leader

Senior wing Jalen Moore led the Aggies in scoring and rebounding in each of the past three seasons, averaging 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds as a junior, and 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds as a sophomore. Moore became the third player in Utah State history to lead the team in scoring and rebounding for three years, joining Greg Grant (1982-84, 1985-86) and Marvin Roberts (1968-71), after pacing the Aggies with 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

No Place Like Home

Utah State called the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum home for the 47th season, amassing a 561-136 (.811) record on its home court.

One of the Nation’s best

Senior wing Jalen Moore was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award initial watch list, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Moore was one of only 20 small forwards in the nation on the initial watch list that was determined by a national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel.

Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team

Senior wing Jalen Moore was named to the Cancun Challenge all-Tournament Team after leading the Aggies with 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game against Purdue and Texas Tech. Over the two-game stretch, Moore shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the floor and 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from behind the 3-point line.

Eating Glass

Senior wing Jalen Moore and redshirt sophomore forward Alexis Dargenton pulled down 15 and 13 rebounds, respectively, against Nevada (2/1), marking the first time that two Aggies have recorded double-digit rebounds in the same game since Moore teamed up with then-senior guard Chris Smith for 12 and 13 rebounds, respectively, at Colorado State (1/16/16).

Sharing the Ball

Utah State’s 27 assists against Air Force was the most helpers recorded by the Aggies since 26 assists against Oakland on March 25, 2012.

Double Figure Scoring Results

Utah State had a total of nine players score in double figures this season. The following is the Aggies’ record when players score in double figures.

Shane Rector - 6-3

Koby McEwen - 12-12

Sam Merrill - 8-6

Julion Pearre - 0-3

Quinn Taylor - 4-1

Alexis Dargenton - 1-3

Ngor Barnaba - 2-0

Jalen Moore - 14-16

Norbert Janicek - 6-4

One player - 0-1

Two players - 0-6

Three players - 6-5

Four players - 5-5

Five players - 3-0

Most Freshmen in the MW/State

Utah State’s seven freshmen are the most on any roster in the Mountain West and among teams within the state of Utah.

From Walk-on to Manager and Back

Senior guard Connor Garner was in his fifth year with the program, having walked on during the 2012-13 season. Garner then served as the team manager for the next three seasons before being offered a spot on the team for the 2016-17 season.

Senior Moment

Senior guard Connor Garner made the most of his first career start on Senior Night against Air Force, scoring a career-high nine points, shooting 3-of-5 from behind the 3-point line, in a career-high 14 minutes.

Offensive Prowess

Utah State finished first and third in the Mountain West in field goal percentage during the first two years under head coach Tim Duryea. The Aggies were third during the 2015-16 season, shooting 45.1 percent, and led the league this season, shooting 46.1 percent (790-of-1,713).

Coming Close to 3-Point Record

Utah State shot a total of 618 3-pointers during the 2016-17 season, the second-most in the history of the program. The Aggies set the record last season with 695 3-point attempts.

3-Point Record Numbers

The volume of 3-point shots paid dividends for the Aggies, as USU made 13 treys in its games against Air Force (2/25), UNLV (1/7) and at Air Force (12/31), marking the third-most 3s made in a game in the history of the program.

Getting the Gimmies

Utah State was 19-of-20 at the free throw line in its game at San José State on Feb. 22, marking the ninth-best single-game total in Utah State history.

Making a Stand at Home

Utah State held opponents to 40 percent shooting on the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum floor, allowing opponents to shoot just 40.0 percent (354-of-885) in Logan this season. 

Home Sweet Home

Utah State finished the 2016-17 regular season with a 10-5 record at home, marking its 35th consecutive season with a winning record at home.

Home Cooking

Utah State has recorded double-digit wins at home in each of the last 23 seasons, including five straight 17-win seasons at home from 2007-2012.

White Shirts, Black Name Tags

Utah State has four players on its roster that served LDS Church Missions, including freshman guard Sam Merrill (Managua, Nicaragua), sophomore forward Quinn Taylor (Sao Paulo, Brazil), senior wing Connor Garner (Hermosillo, Mexico) and freshman guard Abel Porter (Samara, Russia).

Melting Pot

Utah State had five internationals on its roster, the most at one time in the history of Aggie basketball. The group included Diogo Brito (Portugal), Norbert Janicek (Slovakia), Koby McEwen (Canada), Alexis Dargenton (Martinique) and Ngor Barnaba, who was born in Sudan, but grew up in Minnesota.

Player to Coach

First-year assistant coach Spencer Nelson is the eighth former Utah State player to coach at his alma mater, joining Reid Newey (1992-93), Jim Boatwright (1989-91), fellow USU Hall of Famer Jimmy Moore (1988-93), Tom Stewart (1981-87), Evan Sorenson (1959-64), Jeff Meyer (1978) and Norvel Hansen (1964).

Voice of the Aggies Calls 1,000

Al Lewis, the voice of the Aggies, called his 1,000th regular season event for Utah State athletics when USU faced Weber State on Dec. 21. Lewis has served as the voice of Utah State football and men’s basketball for more than 20 years.