Aggies overwhelm Braves with 101-46 win in season opener

LOGAN, Utah – In the opening minutes of the 2024-25 season, it looked like Utah State men's basketball would face an early test.

Then Spectrum Magic took over.

The Aggies defeated Alcorn State with a 34-0 run in the first half and held the Braves scoreless for over 12 minutes of game time to take complete control of the team's season opener. Utah State never gave up and won 101-46 on Wednesday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

USU's 34-0 first-half run is the second-largest unanswered run in program history, trailing only a 37-0 win over Idaho on Feb. 15, 2006.

The Aggies were led by the senior center Aubin Gateretse with 24 points on perfect 11-for-11 shooting. Gateretse's 11 made field goals without a miss are the second-most in program history, trailing only Mike Santos' 12-for-12 night against Idaho State on Jan. 12, 1978. Graduate senior guard Ian Martínez and sophomore wing Tucker Anderson added 12 points each while junior center Isaac Johnson also in double figures with 11 points.

Utah State nearly doubled the Braves' rebounding output, hauling in 52 boards while Alcorn State had 27. Johnson led the way with seven rebounds, while Gateretse and the freshman led the way Isaac Davis both tore down six boards.

The Aggies also recorded 28 assists with just nine turnovers, while the Braves had just seven assists and forced 20 turnovers. As a result, USU had a 29-6 advantage in fast break points and outscored Alcorn State 50-16 in the paint. Sophomore guard Mason Falslev and freshman guard Jordy Barnes With six helpers each, he is tied for the team lead in assists.

The win was USU's first 50-point win since a 101-48 victory over South Dakota Mines last season and its first against a Division I opponent since defeating Weber State, 89-34, on March 8. November 2019. This is also the Aggies' first 100 points since their 108-81 win over San Diego in December 2023. The 55-point margin is the ninth-largest in school history.

During the first media timeout, Alcorn State battled the Aggies to take a 10-8 lead at 15:36. From there, however, Utah State's defense took over, forcing the Braves to go 0 of 15 from the field and force 10 turnovers over the next 12.5 minutes. The run began with a 3-pointer from Anderson before the Aggies scored 10 straight points on layups or dunks. A pair of Martinez threes then preceded three consecutive dunks from Gateretse, Martinez and the second-year forward Karson Templin. A second Templin dunk put the Aggies up by 30 points later in the first half and took a 52-14 lead into the locker room.

The Aggies started the second half with a 9-0 run, eliminating any possibility of a miraculous comeback. Gateretse continued to make his mark in the second half, shooting 6-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the FT line, including three straight three-pointers at the rim over a minute in the middle of the period. Utah State's lead continued to grow, reaching its maximum lead of 57 points after a 3-pointer by the sophomore guard Braden Housley at the last minute.

Utah State shot 51.4 percent from the field (37 for 72) and 38.7 percent from behind the 3-point line (12 for 31). USU also shot 83.3 percent from the FT line (15 for 18). The Aggies held Alcorn State to just 29.1 percent from the floor (16-for-55) and 33.3 percent (7-for-21) from behind the arc.

NEXT

Utah State welcomes Charlotte to the Spectrum on Saturday, November 9th at 2 p.m. in the second of four home games to begin the season.

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CONSEQUENCES

For more information about the Utah State men's basketball program, follow the Aggies on Facebook at usumensbasketball, on Twitter at @usubasketball and on Instagram at @usubasketball. Fans can also watch USU men's basketball highlights at youtube.com/utahstateathletics.

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