Utah State Takes Down Aztecs In Come-From-Behind Thriller
Jan 31, 2026, 1:19 PM
Utah State guard Drake Allen brings the ball up the floor against heavy pressure while facing the San Diego State Aztecs at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, January 31. (Photo courtesy USU Athletics, Arpan Bose)
(Photo courtesy USU Athletics, Arpan Bose)
LOGAN, Utah – Spectrum Magic does it again as the Utah State Aggies storm back in the second half to steal a 71-66 win over San Diego State.
The Aggies (18-3, 9-2 MW) hosted the San Diego State Aztecs (15-6, 9-2 MW) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday, January 31.
SDSU began the day as the Mountain West leader, followed closely by Utah State and New Mexico, half a game behind.
Utah State comes from behind to stun San Diego State in a sold-out Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.@USUBasketball caught 🔥 down the stretch to earn a massive 71-66 win.pic.twitter.com/DiPV1iRysW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2026
Karson Templin led the Aggies with 18 points, adding seven rebounds in an all-around effort from the junior. MJ Collins Jr. hit two big threes down the stretch and finished with 12 points, five boards, and two assists.
Feshman Adlan Elamin was everywhere, scoring 13 points while adding eight rebounds and three assists.
Drake Allen struggled with turnovers but got it together late to finish with nine points, four rebounds, and four assists.
First Half
The cold weather outside followed both programs indoors as the two teams combined to miss 10 of the game’s first 12 shots. USU committed four turnovers in the opening four minutes.
The feed, the finish#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9cZzDKOz7X
— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 31, 2026
Defensive intensity was the story, with neither offense finding anything easy.
SDSU led 11-8 heading into the second media timeout.
The Aggies missed their first six three-point attempts, stifling any potential momentum. Their saving grace was four offensive rebounds, which led to two second-chance buckets as the offense flailed against an aggressive, long Aztec team.
A friendly San Diego State whistle sent the Spectrum faithful into a tizzy midway through the half. SDSU started 4-of-6 from the charity stripe while the Aggies were still looking for their first attempt.
Jerrod Calhoun’s team missed its first 11 three-point attempts, allowing the Aztecs to build a 24-15 lead before Karson Templin drilled a top-of-the-key triple.
KT for 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/diAzS2V4qA
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 31, 2026
Templin’s was USU’s best player in the opening 20 minutes, bringing much-needed fire to a struggling team. The spark plug scored 12 points before any of his teammates had more than four.
Utah State closed the half on a 9-0 run, using its best stretch of the game to tie SDSU at 34 heading into halftime.
Second Half
Point guard Drake Allen struggled mightily with San Diego State’s pressure, turning the ball over three times in the opening minutes of the half. The Aztecs used the opportunity to build a six-point lead.
We’ve got a tightly contested second half in Logan with @USUBasketball trailing the Aztecs 46-42.
USU is 0-5 from deep to start the half.pic.twitter.com/9rTXbvoPc0
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2026
Giveaways continued to plague the Aggies in the second half. USU turned the ball over six times in the first ten minutes of the half.
Utah State fought back with a 6-0 run to trail 52-51 at the under-eight-minute media timeout. Layups from Allen and Mason Falslev keyed the outburst.
Moments later, Elamin drained a corner three off a pass from Allen, giving USU its first lead since 8-7 early in the first half.
Utah State stormed back with a 9-0 run, taking its first lead since 8-7 with 12:15 left in the first half. @USUBasketball leads 59-56 with 5:42 left.pic.twitter.com/XRAaGwFpmg
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2026
After struggling for much of the afternoon, MJ Collins Jr. hit two massive threes down the stretch to help the Aggies maintain a small advantage.
MICHAEL. COLLINS. JUNIOR. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/reN7UkjtFM
— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 31, 2026
Seconds later, Templin found a cutting Elamin for a lob dunk, giving Utah State a 68-61 lead with 1:42 left and sending a sold-out Spectrum crowd into delirium.
The Aggies held on to seal the 71-66 victory.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
