EditorsNote: Updates: Minor edits throughout
Utah State got off to a quick start and never looked back Tuesday night, as the 17th-ranked Aggies hammered Denver 97-56 Tuesday night in Logan, Utah.
Utah State (3-0) ran out to a 31-7 lead in the first 9:02 of the game and established a 53-27 lead at the half. Utah State then held Denver (1-2) scoreless in the first 4:07 of the second half to push its lead to 33 points at 60-27. The Aggies gradually increased their lead over the remainder of the second half and remained unbeaten on the season.
Brock Miller led Utah State with 27 points. He hit 10 of 19 field goals, including 7 of 15 3-pointers. Miller's hot shooting night enabled Utah State's starting five to outscore Denver's starting five by a 58-33 margin. Utah State finished 14 of 30 from long distance, whereas Denver ended the night just 4 of 16 on 3-pointers.
Utah State's size and length run through its roster. The Aggies -- whose lineup has an average height of 6-foot-7 -- overwhelmed the smaller Pioneers on the glass, 50 rebounds to 25. USU grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to only three for Denver.
Justin Bean led Utah State with 15 rebounds, four of them on the offensive glass. Alphonso Anderson came off the bench for the Aggies to add 15 points and six rebounds. No Denver player had more rebounds than Jase Townsend's four. USU's ability to crash the offensive glass helped the Aggies finish with 13 more field-goal attempts (67-54) and 10 more free throws (24-14). USU made 11 more field goals (32-21) and nine more foul shots (19-10) than Denver.
Sam Merrill added 14 points for the Aggies, while Ade Murkey led Denver with 14 points.
--Field Level Media
