LOGAN, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – For just the second time first since joining the Mountain West Conference, Utah State sweeps San Diego State.
Dexter Akanno scored a career-high 26 points, making 7-of-9 three-pointers to lead the Aggies to a 79-71 win over the Aztecs Saturday night at The Spectrum.
USU also swept the season series during the 2020-21 campaign when USU played both games against the Aztecs at home due to COVID-19.
Ian Martinez and Deyton Albury both scored 18 points for the Aggies, who saw a 14-point first half lead disappear before closing the game on a 14-2 run to win by eight.
“For us to play through a little fatigue, a little bit of offensive struggle throughout the game, to hold them to 71 points is why we won the game,” said USU head coach Jerrod Calhoun. “We outrebounded them by eight. There’s a big size difference between us and them, you can see it. So I give our guys a ton of credit. The physicality, the rebounding, ball security. We only had seven turnovers and they’re one of the best teams in the country at turning you over.”
San Diego State led 69-65 with 3:17 to play, when Martinez scored 10 of Utah State’s final 14 points to seal the victory.
Utah State (24-4, 14-3 Mountain West) made 26 of 32 free throws, and made 11 three-pointers in the victory. Albury made 12-of-13 shots from the charity stripe. The Aggies have won eight of its last ten games.
Mason Falslev struggled from the field, making just 1-of-8 shots and finishing with five points. But Falslev pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, as the Aggies out-rebounded the Aztecs, 38-30.
“It was amazing, I give credit to all the coaches on staff and the players for staying composed and carrying the game out,” Akanno said. “That’s something that we’ve preached about in practices leading up to this game. We knew that it was going to be a dogfight, and I just thank God that we were able to pull it out today.”
Utah State led San Diego State at the half, 33-26, with Akanno (12 points) its high scorer before the break. Martinez’s free throw with 2:57 left in the second half gave Utah State the lead for good at 70-69.
Nick Boyd had 15 points to lead San Diego State (18-7, 11-5), while BJ Davis added 14.
The Aggies next play at Boise State Wednesday night.
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