Aggies Dominate End Of Game To Beat Cowboys
Feb 13, 2019, 9:05 PM | Updated: Feb 14, 2019, 2:05 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State turned it on in the final stretch of the second half to defeat Wyoming 76-59.
The Aggies had previously beaten the Cowboys 71-55 in Laramie on Jan. 12. In that contest, Sam Merrill played nearly the entire game and totaled a team-high 22 points while three more of his teammates finished in double figures.
WIN #19 ✅#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/sn1sbFzEr6
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 14, 2019
Merrill Continues Strong Play
A month later and in the friendly confines of the Spectrum, Merrill was on fire again. He started the game by making three of his first three attempts from 3-point territory. At the break, he had 13 points.
To start the game, Wyoming grabbed an early 8-6 lead before Abel Porter made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Aggies a 12-8 advantage.
After the game was tied up again at 12-all, Utah State busted open a 9-2 run to take a 23-14 lead.
The Cowboys came back and tied the game up at 37-all before the halftime break.
AT THE HALF
All tied up at 37-37. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/zHRDnA0Ee0
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 14, 2019
It was close action with the two teams playing back and forth until the final five minutes. Wyoming’s Jake Hendricks made a 3-pointer to bring the score to 60-57 for Utah State. That was Wyoming’s last glimmer of hope before the Aggies reeled off a 16-2 run to end the game and send the Cowboys back to Laramie with the loss.
The huge game-ending run was capped off by a nice alley-oop from Porter to Neemias Queta with little time remaining.
Nice guy.
Tries hard.
Loves the game.
Ladies and Gentlemen …. @nemi1599 pic.twitter.com/56LU1A5f8y
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 14, 2019
By The Numbers
Merrill finished with 19 points and four 3-pointers made and like the Wyoming game in January, had the help of three other teammates in double figures.
Queta turned in a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The win moved Utah State to 19-6 overall with a 9-3 record in conference play.
Next Up
The Aggies will next travel to face Air Force on Saturday at 2 p.m.
