Sports Utah State Aggies

3 takeaways from the Utah State Aggies’ 70-61 victory over the Boise State Broncos

Published: Feb 8, 2020, 10:37 p.m. MST

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Utah State guard Sam Merrill (5) drives to the basket as Boise State center Robin Jorch (25) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

By Brandon Judd

Brandon covers sports for the Deseret News, with an emphasis on the University of Utah and the NFL.

SALT LAKE CITY — Another matchup with Boise State led to another thriller for Utah State on Saturday night at the Spectrum.

The Aggies lost 88-83 in overtime in their previous matchup, but this time Utah State made the plays down the stretch to hold off a Broncos rally with a 70-61 win.

Here are three takeaways that defined this game:

Boise State guard Derrick Alston, center, grabs a rebound between Utah State guard Brock Miller (22) and guard Sean Bairstow (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State forward RJ Williams (23) knocks the ball out of the hands of Utah State guard Sam Merrill (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State guard Derrick Alston (21) has his shot blocked by Utah State center Neemias Queta (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State guard Justinian Jessup (3) grabs a rebound next to Utah State forward Justin Bean (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State coach Leon Rice yells at the referees after a player was called for a foul against Utah State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Utah State guard Sam Merrill (5) drives to the basket as Boise State center Robin Jorch (25) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Utah State guard Sam Merrill (5) drives to the basket as Boise State center Robin Jorch (25) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State forward Riley Abercrombie hangs from the rim after a dunk next to Utah State center Neemias Queta (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

Boise State guard Justinian Jessup (3) drives to the basket as Utah State center Neemias Queta (23) and guard Abel Porter (15) defend during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP) | Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

A flagrant one foul on Boise State’s Riley Abercombie with 30 seconds to play helped Utah State (19-7, 8-5 Mountain West) push its lead from one point to three at 64-61 on two Neemias Queta free throws, and the Aggies retained possession. Sam Merrill then hit two free throws to make it a five-point game, and Diogo Brito scored in transition following a Boise State miss to effectively put the game away while closing the contest on an 8-0 run.

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There was foul trouble for both teams in the game, as Boise State saw RJ Williams and Robin Jorch foul out in the second half while USU’s Merrill was limited to 23 minutes after picking up his fourth foul 40 seconds into the second half. Neemias Queta spent much of the second half with three fouls. That led to the Aggies shooting 30 of 35 from the free-throw line, while the Broncos were 11 of 19 from the charity stripe.
Merrill and Queta led Utah State as usual, with Merrill putting up 17 points, four assists and two rebounds and Queta adding 21 points and eight rebounds. Justin Bean also came up big with even points and a game-high 16 rebounds as USU outrebounded the Broncos 37-21. Justinian Jessup paced Boise State (16-9, 8-5 MW) with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists.

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