Brito scores 23, leads Utah State past San Jose State

Brito scores 23, leads Utah State past San Jose State

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Diogo Brito scored 23 points with six assists and five rebounds and Utah State defeated San Jose State 81-63 on Wednesday night.

Brito, a junior from Portugal, averages 5.6 points per game and had a previous career high of 16 points against Weber State last month. Neemias Queta, a freshman from Portugal, added 14 points with nine rebounds for the Aggies (13-5, 3-2 Mountain West).

Noah Baumann, who averages 8.8 points per game, finished with a career-high 29 points and was 7 of 10 from distance to lead San Jose State (3-13, 0-4) although he went through a 16-minute scoreless stretch in the second half. His previous career high was 23 against Northern Arizona last month.

Baumann scored 24 points in the first 21½ minutes of play, making six of his first seven 3-point attempts. His sixth 3-pointer drew the Spartans within 43-38 with 18:31 left in the second half. The Spartans’ Zach Chappell hit a 3-pointer a couple of minutes later to make it 43-41 but the Aggies went on a 17-3 run that proved decisive. Once Utah State had its 60-44 lead the Aggies maintained at least a 12-point lead to the finish.