Utah State Basketball Picks Up First Loss Against South Florida

TAMPA, Fla. — Utah State basketball started slow against the South Florida Bulls, which led to the first loss of the season on Thursday.

Mason Falslev and MJ Collins Jr. led the way with 19 each, and they were the only Aggies to score in double figures. Four different Bulls players scored at least 10 points.

USU will play its next game on the road before returning to the Spectrum to play three of the following four at home.

Final from Tampa:

Utah State – 61
South Florida – 74#AggiesAllTheWay

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 5, 2025

First Half

The Bulls charged out of the gates, taking the advantage early with three of their first four makes coming from downtown.

USU kept it close in the opening minutes. Falslev took the reins and scored all of the Aggies’ first seven points.

South Florida kept its foot on the gas and opened its first double-digit lead about nine minutes after tip.

Breaking through the press #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/QGu6CbHbKC

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 5, 2025

That is when the game really broke open for USF. From the 12-minute mark to around six minutes, Utah State didnt score a single point.

The Bulls took advantage with a 13-0 run.

Utah State stopped the bleeding a bit in the final five minutes of the half. Falslev and Collins combined for seven in the final minutes, leaving the score at 41-20 going into the break.

2⃣ for 3⃣#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/OffmH43p3Q

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 5, 2025

Second Half

After getting stunned in the first 20, Utah State finally woke up in the second half. But the push ended up being too little, too late.

The first ten minutes of the half featured back-and-forth action that saw the USF lead bounce above and below 20 points multiple times.

After a pair of Josh Omojafo with six minutes left, USU saw its first real run of the game. They outscored the Bulls 17-9 down the stretch.

Addy 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐓#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/r86c9rH0B8

— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 5, 2025

Outside of two layups from Garry Clark and Jordy Barnes, Collins and Falslev scored all of the points during this run.

The double-digit win was much needed for USF as they came in having lost three of their last four.

Although it hurt to drop its first game, the Aggies are still comfortably in first in the Mountain West standings. There are three 6-2 teams now within striking distance, though.

Follow Utah State basketball with KSL Sports

Utah State faces the Charlotte 49ers in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, December 7. Tip-off is at 12 p.m. MT.

Listen to USU basketball games on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard on the call.

Find Utah State’s entire 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule here.

Find KSL Sports coverage of Utah State University Athletics here.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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