Utah State Avoids Letdown With Confident Win Over UNLV
Jan 29, 2025, 10:51 PM | Updated: Jan 30, 2025, 2:10 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Defense made the difference in a 76-71 Utah State win, as poor free throw shooting gave UNLV a comeback chance in Logan. Deyton Albury’s 16 points led an Aggie bench that outscored the Rebels 37-4.
The Aggies (18-2, 8-1) hosted the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (11-9, 5-4) on Wednesday, January 29, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The Rebels handed Utah State its only conference loss with a 65-62 setback on January 16.
𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/cOjofkOB03
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
Isaac Johnson (15 points), Mason Falslev (13), and Dexter Akanno joined Albury in the all-inclusive effort.
First Half
It was an ugly opening stretch, with both programs playing hesitantly and feeling each other out. The Rebels missed five of their first six shots while USU grabbed a 5-2 lead courtesy of an Ian Martinez three.
Ian doing what Ian does@IanJumaine pic.twitter.com/tm1Z7gaXzZ
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
Utah State went on an 11-5 run out of the timeout. Threes from Drake Allen and Jordy Barnes extended the lead to 16-7.
It's late, but the Spectrum is already 𝘾𝙊𝙊𝙆𝙄𝙉 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RAmEZ6xd0A
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
The run grew to 22-7 when Oregon State transfer Dexter Akanno hit back-to-back threes.
Dexter 3 ➡️ Drake block ➡️ Dexter 3 pic.twitter.com/XkefeJZOCa
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
Six consecutive missed shots slowed the Aggie attack briefly, but two lay-ins from Deyton Albury gave USU a 27-13 lead with 4:50 left. Utah State’s bench outscored UNLV 17-0 in the opening 15 minutes. Akanno led the way with eight.
Utah State senior guard Dexter Akanno glide to the basket at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Wednesday, January 29, 2024. (USU Athletics, Journee Stewart)
UNLV was getting overly little offensive production from sensational sophomore Dedan Thomas Jr., who added nine points in the game’s early stages.
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The Rebels picked up their attack down the stretch, cutting the deficit to single-digits, 33-24 at the break.
20 minutes left to fight😤#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/fR3qQSO2YA
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
Second Half
Little changed in the opening minutes of the second half. Both teams came out of the break slowly, with UNLV staying within striking distance.
Allen electrified the Spectrum crown when he went to his right, drove past a defender, and threw down a vicious right-handed slam to give his team a 43-34 lead with 14:29 to play.
A dunk so nice, we had to post it twice pic.twitter.com/nyc4fB3kyB
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) January 30, 2025
UNLV spurred the momentum, using a quick 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to a single possession. Utah State led 45-42 with 11:36 left.
Attacking the paint helped the Rebels mount their comeback against a foul-troubled Aggie team. Pounding the interior brought UNLV within two with six minutes to play
Mason Falslev’s first three of the night gave the Aggies a 60-56 lead, fighting off the continued UNLV onslaught.
4-point swing for @USUBasketball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aSN2mxJN0y
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 30, 2025
Minutes later, Albury splashed a wing three off the assist from Falslev to give USU a 67-59 and forced a timeout with the building hopping. The three gave the Queens University transfer a season-high 16 points.
Big time shot from Deyton Albury 👌@USUBasketball pic.twitter.com/nYknFRNoFv
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 30, 2025
Utah State’s defense took control down the stretch, holding the Rebels without a FG for nearly five minutes. A tap-in from Jaden Henley cut the lead to seven with 1:03 on the clock.
The Aggies withstood a late Rebel surge to come away with the 76-71 win.
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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.
