LOGAN, Utah – Utah State, members of the Mountain Western Conference and tournament hosts, used a 13-0 run into the second half to pull away from the Western Illinois men's basketball team, and eventually earn a 68-52 victory Thursday evening (Dec. 19).

“I thought our fight was good,” said head coach Jim Molinari. “Utah State is great at home, as we found out today coach Stew Morrill, in this tournament, is 26-0, and 74-3 at home in December. So they don't lose much at home.”

The nonconference tilt was game one of the Basketball Travelers Classic for both Western and Utah State. The Leathernecks fall to 4-6 overall after the loss, while USU improves to 7-2 overall on the year.

“(Utah State) runs its offense great, but I thought we fought hard,” continued Molinari. “ We just couldn't rebound. They over powered us physically, and they are just much stronger than we are.”

USU finished with 34 rebounds in the game compared to WIU's 18. Utah State also betted Western in assists (15-11) and blocks (9-4). The Leathernecks tallied more steals (11-4) and had less turnovers in the game (10-19).

Western got off to a slow start as the Aggies of USU jumped out to an early 10-point advantage, 15-5, at the 14:38 mark of the first. The Leathernecks then began to chip away at the Aggies lead until the 3:38 mark of the opening period eventually getting to within two points, 26-24.

USU then capped off the first on a 9-0 and took a 35-24 lead into the half.

The Aggies continued their run into the second half, increasing it to 13 unanswered points, and took a 39-24 advantage just over a minute into the second period.

The Leathernecks were able to cut their deficit to 12 points at the 14:33 mark of the second, and 13 points with 9:17 to play in regulation, but the Aggies wouldn't allow WIU to get any closer on their way to their seventh win of the season, and improving their home record in December to 75-3 under head coach Stew Morrill.

Sophomore Jordan Foster led the Leathernecks with 10 points, while dishing out two assists, and tallying one steal.

Four other Leathernecks finished with seven or more points in freshman Garret Covington (9), Adam Link (8), Michael Ochereobia (8), Jabari Sandifer (7).

Covington also dished out a team-high five helpers, grabbed three boards, and tallied two steals.

Ochereobia pulled down a team-high four rebounds, knocked away a team-best two blocks, and recorded a steal.

Both Sandifer and junior Mohamed Conde tallied three steals.

Utah State shot better from the field and from beyond the arc. The Aggies shot 52.8% (19-36) from the field and 71.4% (5-7) from the three-point line. Western connected on 39.6% (21-53) from the floor, and 20% (3-15) from long range. 

The Leathernecks struggled to get to the free throw line again, going 7-of-9 (77.8%), while Utah State went to the line 34 times and made 25 of them (73.5%).

In its last two games, WIU has shot 13 free throws compared to its opponents' 62.

Western continues action in the Basketball Travelers Classic tomorrow evening (Dec. 20) versus the Troy Trojans at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Troy dropped its opening game of the tournament to UC Santa Barbara, 57-54, after the Gauchos dropped a eventual game-winning three-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation.

The Utah State Tournament Central page can be found HERE.