Utah State’s Justin Bean, right, gets the upper hand on the ball from Air Force’s Nikc Jackson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
Brandon Judd
By Brandon Judd

Utah State stayed perfect in Mountain West Conference play by rolling to an 83-48 victory over Air Force on Thursday at Clune Arena.

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Both teams will face each other again Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Here are three takeaways from the Aggies’ win:

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After falling, Air Force's Ameka Akaya tries to pass the ball but puts his foot out of bounds while being defended by Utah State's Justin Bean During the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
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Air Force's Ameka Akaya shoots over Utah State's Justin Bean during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
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Air Force's Nikc Jackson is unable to keep Utah State's Justin Bean from scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
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Utah State's Brock Miller and Air Force's Chris Joyce fight for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
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Air Force's Glen McClintock passes the ball during the second half against Utah State in an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
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Air Force coach Joe Scott talks to his team during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah State on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP) | Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP
  • Utah State (6-3, 3-0 MW) won its fifth straight game by forcing turnovers and capitalizing on those opportunities. The Aggies forced the Falcons (3-4, 1-2 MW) into 26 turnovers and turned those into 45 points. Air Force, meanwhile, scored just five points on nine Utah State turnovers. The Aggies had 11 steals in the game, led by Justin Bean with three.
  • In addition to a wide gap in turnovers between the two teams, there was also a large disparity in field goals. Utah State shot 29 more field-goal attempts than Air Force — the Aggies made 34 of 65 (52.3%), while the Falcons hit 17 of 36 (47.2%). Utah State also more than doubled Air Force in 3-pointers made, 12 to 5.
  • Utah State had twice the number of assists than Air Force, 24 to 12, including a team-high six from Marco Anthony. Five Aggies scored in double figures, led by 15 from Bean and 14 from Brock Miller, who hit four 3-pointers.
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