Utah State defeats Fresno St 63-72
Utah State Edges Fresno St Behind Balanced Attack, 72-63
In a tightly contested conference matchup at the Save Mart Center, Utah State (AWAY) emerged victorious, defeating Fresno St (HOME) 72-63 on New Year's Eve. The Aggies' balanced attack and stifling defense proved too much for the Bulldogs to handle.
The game was a seesaw affair from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets in the first half. Fresno St took an early lead, but Utah State responded with a 13-2 run to take control midway through the period. The Aggies' Karson Templin led the charge, scoring 5 points during the surge, including a clutch three-pointer that gave his team a 4-point cushion.
Trailing by 9 points at halftime, Fresno St fought back in the second half, led by Jake Heidbreder's 10 points. However, Utah State's defense stiffened, holding the Bulldogs to just 5 field goals over the first 8 minutes of the period. Meanwhile, MJ Collins Jr. continued his strong play, adding 4 points during this stretch.
As the game wore on, Utah State began to pull away. Drake Allen's 3-pointer with 6:30 remaining gave the Aggies a 10-point lead, and they never looked back. Fresno St's Wilson Jacques scored 5 points in the final 2 minutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
The Aggies' balanced attack was on full display, with four players scoring in double figures. MJ Collins Jr. led the way with 18 points, while Karson Templin added 13 rebounds and 5 points. Drake Allen chipped in with 4 assists and 3 points, and Jake Luellen contributed 10 points off the bench.
Fresno St's Heidbreder was the lone bright spot for the Bulldogs, scoring 21 points on 6-9 three-point shooting. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Aggies' stifling defense.
In the end, Utah State's 72-63 victory marked a much-needed win for the program, which had struggled against conference opponents earlier in the season. The Aggies' balanced attack and strong defense proved too much for Fresno St to handle, setting up a pivotal matchup next week against rival San Diego State.