Aggies Spark Big Run To Reach Biggest Lead In Conference Championship Game
Mar 16, 2019, 5:43 PM
Utah State Aggies guard Sam Merrill (5) shoots over San Diego State Aztecs guard Jeremy Hemsley (42) during the Mountain West Conference finals at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 16, 2019. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Utah State Aggies had a 34-32 lead at the half, but they stormed out to a 13-0 run to start the second half and stretch their lead to 47-32 with 15:27 left in the game.
The Aztecs missed 11 straight shots, before they made a shot.
Neemias Queta made two low-post jump shots to spark the run and forced the Aztecs to call a timeout, that put the freshman to 15 points, after scoring 11 in the first half.
🔥⬆️#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/zheIU4QtJs
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 16, 2019
Out of the timeout, Sam Merrill made a three-pointer, followed by two triples from Brock Miller. Merrill had 14 points and the two three’s from Miller were his first six points of the game.
Oh don't leave that kid open!
👌 @smerrill05 #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/kI7Ag9RwM0
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 16, 2019
The Aztecs turned the ball over just once during that run but couldn’t make shots to stop the run.
Utah State is playing in their first ever Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship game since joining the conference in 2013. They won a share of the regular season title with Nevada.
SPLASH MILLER!!!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/gEgFIJnfkJ
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 16, 2019
San Diego State eliminated the Wolf Pack in the semifinals of the tournament, while Utah State beat Fresno State for the second time in three meetings this season.
