LOGAN, Utah-Wednesday, Utah State men’s basketball hosts Northern Iowa as part of the annual Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge for a 7:00 pm tip-off at the Spectrum.
In this challenge, the Aggies are 1-2 all-time, having defeated Missouri State 69-68 and dropping a 62-61 game to Indiana State and a 72-65 decision to Valparaiso.
The 5-1 Aggies will be meeting the 3-3 Panthers of Cedar Falls, Iowa for the first time in program history.
The 5-1 start is the best for Utah State since the 2013-14 season.
Under new head coach Craig Smith, the Aggies have been exemplary on the glass, having out-rebounded all of their opponents this season. They are 7th in rebound margin nationally at +14.1 boards per game.
The Aggies have also been magnificent at the foul line, as they are second nationally in free throw shooting at 81.8 percent (117-143).
The Aggies’ reserves have outscored opponents 216-90 as well, as they net 36 points per game early on.
Utah State’s star is junior guard Sam Merrill, who has scored in double figures in every game this season and averages 22 points per contest, the second-best in the Mountain West.
Smith has also made the Aggies a solid second half team as they are 5-0 this season when leading at the half.
The Panthers score 73.7 points per game and give up 68.8 points per contest and are paced by freshman guard A.J. Green (18.3 points per game) and junior forward Lincoln Conrey (10 points per game).
