NCAAB Game Recap - Weber State at Utah State
Fri Nov 8, 2019 9:00 PM EST

E KY
49
KY
91
F
UNCG
62
Kansas
74
F
ColSt
55
Duke
89
F
UNC
78
UNCW
62
F
IL-C
46
Mem
92
F
Baylor
64
Wash
67
F
Web
34
UtSt
89
F
Sien
63
Xav
81
F
BGSU
79
LSU
88
F
David
66
Aub
76
F
N TX
56
VCU
59
F
(N/A)
51
E MI
93
F
(N/A)
76
Mercer
84
F
Oakl
53
Del
56
F
(N/A)
62
USC-Up
103
F
USMMA
43
Army
80
F
(N/A)
64
SCSt
79
F
(N/A)
53
Norf
93
F
(N/A)
54
Elon
95
F
Dart
68
Buff
63
F
Akr
84
WVU
94
F
(N/A)
65
JU
83
F
ArkSt
43
Miss
71
F
(N/A)
37
Yale
94
F
Maris
58
VMI
56
F
Copp
42
VaTec
74
F
(N/A)
31
Tows
100
F
Vermt
61
StBon
59
F
StFPA
98
Rich
100
F(OT)
ChaSo
49
NCAT
63
F
FAU
60
Mia-FL
74
F
UMassL
87
LIU
74
F
Longw
65
GMas
76
F
LoyIL
63
Furm
87
F
Niag
64
Drex
72
F
Rider
81
DelSt
54
F
SacHr
67
UConn
89
F
W&M
79
Amer
70
F
(N/A)
47
Campbl
101
F
UTSA
60
SIU
72
F
(N/A)
66
CoCar
102
F
Radf
60
Lib
66
F
FaDi
59
DeP
70
F
E IL
52
Wisc
65
F
(N/A)
71
NW
61
F
NoKY
56
Mizzu
71
F
SHSU
58
MissSt
67
F
(N/A)
61
Lamar
106
F
Harv
79
NE
84
F
Reinh
55
GaSo
109
F
Eccle
52
Gram
147
F
HCU
81
ORU
95
F
(N/A)
59
FIU
101
F
ECU
57
Navy
62
F
MsVl
49
Utah
143
F
Ill
83
GrCan
71
F
SIU-E
60
Iowa
87
F
SDak
72
Pacif
62
F
CalLu
56
CBU
112
F
CAPoly
63
SCla
77
F
(N/A)
27
Sac
76
F
InWor
61
N CO
83
F
AzSt
71
Colora
81
F
Portl
65
USC
76
F
FlaAM
52
HI
65
F

Nov 8, 2019, 9:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Weber State

13

21

34

(17) Utah State

48

41

89

Bean scores 18, No. 17 Utah State routs Weber State 89-34
Sat Nov 9, 2019 12:41 AM

LOGAN, Utah (AP) Utah State had no trouble turning a normally close rivalry game with Weber State into a blowout.

The No. 17 Aggies put together one of their best defensive performances in several seasons on their way to beating the Wildcats 89-34 on Friday night. Weber State committed 19 turnovers and shot just 21.7% from the floor.

The Wildcats' 34 points were the fewest Utah State allowed an opponent to score since holding San Jose State to 33 points on December 31, 2014. And the Aggies 55-point margin of victory was the most against a Division I opponent since defeating Cal-State Fullerton 115-60 on December 23, 1972.

"Our defense led to so many easy buckets," junior guard Abel Porter said. "This team plays really well with momentum. Our home crowd is so good at just keeping the energy. Once we got the ball rolling, it really didn't stop."

Justin Bean had 18 points and nine rebounds and Sam Merrill added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Aggies. Porter chipped in 10 points and 10 assists for his first career double-double, while Diogo Brito scored 12 points.

The Aggies (2-0) beat the Wildcats for the second straight season.

Donatas Kupsas scored 10 points to lead the Wildcats. Weber State (0-1) had the lowest shooting percentage for a Utah State opponent since Alabama State shot 21% from the field against the Aggies on December 15, 2018.

"We were really gritty," Bean said. "Hats off to those guys. I thought they were really physical. But we knew we had a job to do and we executed really well offensively."

Each team played without its top player. Utah State center Neemia Queta was sidelined for a second straight game while continuing to rehab a knee injury. Weber State guard Jerrick Harding, the team's leading scorer a season ago, sat out with a foot injury.

Things spiraled out control for Weber State a few minutes into the game.

After taking a 6-4 lead on a 3-pointer by Israel Barnes, the Wildcats went 11 1/2 minutes without making a basket. Weber State missed 10 straight shots and turned the ball over seven times in that stretch.

"We forgot to move the ball," senior guard Cody John said. "We forgot our defensive principles. But at the end of the day we were playing hard and we're just going to get better."

That allowed Utah State to pull away, and the Aggies did it in commanding fashion.

The Aggies used a 20-2 run - capped by a second-chance dunk by Kuba Karwowski - to race to a 24-8 lead. After Kupsas hit a 3-pointer to break Weber State's lengthy shooting drought, Utah State mounted another overwhelming run before halftime.

Merrill drained a 3-pointer and Bean converted traditional three-point plays over three straight possessions to spark a 27-2 run by the Aggies. Merrill capped the run with another 3-pointer on Utah State's first possession of the second half, giving the Aggies a 51-13 lead.

"To hold them to 13 points is incredibly difficult to do, but our guys were really locked in," Utah State coach Craig Smith said.

MASKED MAN

Bean wore a protective mask on Friday after taking an elbow to the face on Tuesday during Utah State's 81-73 win over Montana State. An oral surgeon operated on him after the game to fix his two front teeth. Bean was also fitted with braces. Ironically, he wore braces during all four years in high school.

It is Bean's second facial injury of the season. Teammate Klay Stall accidentally elbowed him in the face a month ago and broke Bean's nose.

"It seems like I've been taking a lot of elbows recently," Bean said. "I suggested just bubble wrapping my face. We'll see what happens."

BIG WINNER

Porter's 10 assists represented a career-high for the former walk-on. He was the first Utah State player to have double-digit assists in a game since Merrill had 12 against Air Force in January.

"The dude is just a winner," Smith said. "I don't know how else to describe him. He just wins."

BIG PICTURE

Weber State: Without their leading scorer, the Wildcats were rudderless on offense. They shot just 10 of 46 from the field and endured a flurry of turnovers that contributed to the blowout.

Utah State: Relentless defensive pressure and crashing the boards helped the Aggies run away from the Wildcats before halftime. Utah State ultimately finished with a 44-27 advantage on rebounds and forced 19 turnovers. The Aggies outscored Weber State 48-8 in the paint, 19-4 in second-chance points, and 23-1 in points off turnovers.

UP NEXT

Weber State: Hosts San Diego on Thursday.

Utah State: Hosts Denver on Tuesday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

-30-

Leaders

Weber State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Kupsas 10 0 2 6 0 0
K. Cunningham 5 0 1 0 0 0
Utah State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Bean 18 0 1 9 1 0
S. Merrill 14 0 6 6 1 0

Team Comparison

Web UtSt
Points For 34 89
Field Goals 10/46-22% 37/67-55%
Three Pointers 5/22-23% 6/17-35%
Free Throws 9/20-45% 9/10-90%
Offensive Rebounds 10 13
Defensive Rebounds 17 31
Rebounds 31 49
Blocks 5 0
Steals 3 6
Turnovers 19 8
Personal Fouls 13 17
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - UtSt Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Nov 8 Web 34 @ UtSt 89 D. Kupsas 10 J. Bean 18

Game Information

Stadium: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, Logan, Utah
Attendance: 8,840
Game Time: