Utah State Eyes Stretch Run, San Jose State Up Next
Feb 18, 2025, 1:14 PM
Utah State basketball guard Drake Allen attempts a free throw in a 93-85 win over the Colorado State Rams at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. (USU Athletics, Eileen Woodings)
(USU Athletics, Eileen Woodings)
LOGAN, Utah—Following their second loss of the season to New Mexico, the Utah State Aggies’ regular-season stretch run is fast approaching. Five games separate USU from a trip to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Basketball Championships.
The Aggies (22-4, 12-3) host the San Jose State Spartans (12-15, 5-10) at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Wednesday, February 19. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Utah State is 12-2 at home, while SJSU is 2-7 on the road. The Aggies lead the all-time series 72-23 and are 41-4 in Logan against the Spartans, with San Jose State’s last win in the Spectrum coming in 1982. USU has won 33 of the previous 35 meetings between these programs.
RELATED: Utah State Succumbs To New Mexico Comeback In The Pit
🆙 Next
🆚 San Jose State
➡️ 7:30 PM | The Spectrum🎟➡️ https://t.co/kXXi9j6LmK pic.twitter.com/1BYGlp5LHa
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 17, 2025
An unexpected leader is beginning to emerge for the Aggies as they enter the season’s twilight stages.
Drake Allen is seizing his opportunity as the sixth man in Logan. Allen needs no introduction to Beehive State hoops fans. After playing his prep basketball for Westlake High School, he went the junior college route with two seasons at Snow College.
Allen went south in 2022, playing for the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. In his lone season at SUU, he earned WAC Newcomer of the Year. Allen returned to his Utah County roots for the 2023-24 season with Utah Valley, averaging 11.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
The Wolverine’s loss is the Aggie’s gain, with Allen acclimating nicely to his USU teammates.
Third steal of the night for Drake Allen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Zq4zoZ4RlN
— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) February 8, 2025
Since the calendar turned to February, Allen has recorded personal season highs in minutes (30), field goals made and attempted (6-of-11), threes made (3), and attempted (4), free throw attempts (9), and blocks (2). Allen’s season-high of 15 points came on January 29.
Playing more than 28 minutes a night off the bench, Allen is 21-of-41 (51.2 percent) from the field, reaching double-figure scoring in four of five games since February 1. He’s adding more than five assists and two steals during the five-game stretch.
The 6’4 point guard averages 7.9 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game for the season.
Utah State tops San Jose in Bay Area Tilt
It was a little close for comfort down the stretch for the Aggies, but some clutch defense and big shot-making in the final minutes helped Utah State outlast the San Jose State Spartans for an 85-78 win.
Mason Falslev led the Aggies with 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, playing a team-high 35 minutes. Ian Martinez continued to shine, adding 14 points, five boards, and four assists. Karson Templin came off the bench to add ten points and seven rebounds.
RELATED: Five Aggies Score In Double Figures, USU Conquers Spartans
3⃣-for-3⃣ from deep for @mason_falslev 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dQ8hJpJjtw
— USU Men’s Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 8, 2025
Two Aggie transfers made a significant difference in the win. Tucker Anderson settled in, scoring 15 on a trio of threes. Deyton Albury finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and three helpers.
Donavan Yap Jr. led the Spartans with 22 points, followed by 20 from Latrell Davis. Will McClendon added 12 points and eight assists. Robert Vailoha patrolled the paint, finishing with six points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
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Utah State welcomes the Spartans to Logan on Wednesday, February 19. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. MT.
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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 Twitter and Instagram at @bpreece24.
