Category: Utah State

Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico

Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85 Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first …

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 Game Recap: No. 22 Utah State 87, New Mexico 85

Utah State Secures Outright MWC Title, With 87-85 Win Over New Mexico

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Darius Brown II’s game winning three pointer gives Utah State & Danny Sprinkle their first outright MWC title.

Logan, UT–As some teams were engaging in conference tournament championship games around the country. Teams in the Mountain West were still clashing for seeding for their own conference tournament next week in Las Vegas. Part of what could be described as “seeding musical chairs” on Saturday was what could absolutely turn into a dogfight in Logan.

New Mexico packed their bags & headed northwest. Ready to end their season on a win & looking for the sweep over league leaders No. 22 Utah State inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The last time these two met was on January 16th, back when a red hot Lobo team secured the 99-86 upset over the then No. 16 Aggies inside the Pit. And even though New Mexico has cooled off plenty since that magical run in January.

They’ve proven in the very recent past that they can beat Utah State. Something not many others have been able to say this season. With plenty on the line Saturday night, both teams put on an absolute show in Logan.

The Lobos got things started quite quickly as they normally do. With back-to-back field goals by star freshman JT Toppin in a span of about 13 seconds or so. Utah State stayed right with them after several free throws & a dunk by Ian Martinez, which gave them their first lead of the game at 7-6.

The reoccurring theme of the night would be the toe-to-toe style and pace of the game throughout. As both teams exchanged field goals with a tie at 10 a piece thanks to another Toppin layup down low & once again at 12 a piece thanks to a Nelly Junior Joseph layup soon after, both assisted by Jaelen House.

Both teams found plenty of success scoring in the paint. In fact, all scoring was done exclusively inside the arc or at the free throw line until Mustapha Amzil drained a three pointer eight minutes into the first half to bring New Mexico to within one (22-21). This after a 6-0 Utah State run gave them some breathing room until the Lobos regained their scoring form.

Amzil would find his confidence from beyond the arc in the first half Saturday night, scoring the next six Lobo points from deep to keep his squad neck and neck with Danny Sprinkle’s team. Scoring again on a layup before receiving some help via two more layups from Toppin & House.

For Utah State the three-headed attack of Brown II, Martinez & Osobor kept their guests at bay in the first half. Struggling from deep (1-8), but finding layup after layup in the lane with their offensive chemistry on full display.

New Mexico gained their first lead (39-38) since the opening few minutes thanks to a pair of Jaelen House free throws approaching the three minute mark. Javon Jackson would send him back to the line after a missed Osobor jumper on the other end. House’s clutch gene kicked in once again as he drained both free throws to extend the Lobo lead to four (42-38) approaching the two minute mark in the half.

Both teams would close the half on a rather cold note. Missing the next eight field goal attempts combined before a Martinez free throw went in for Utah State. To be followed up by what Donovan Dent does best, a layup on the other end to extend New Mexico’s lead to 44-39 before the half-time buzzer sounded.

The first half was certainly a toe-to-toe bout. With Sprinkle’s aforementioned three-pronged attack leading the way. As Great Osobor lead all scorers with 15 points & 6 rebounds, Ian Martinez being the other Aggie in double-figures with 11 points & Brown II being the catalyst for most of it with 9 points of his own to go along with 5 assists & 4 rebounds.

Without Amzil’s hotstreak in the middle of the half, New Mexico would be playing catchup after the break. Entering half-time with 13 points, primarily off of his stellar 3-4 (75%) shooting performance from deep.

JT Toppin was the other Lobo in double figures with 10 points off of 5-7 (71.4%) shooting. House posted numbers similar to his Aggie counterpart with 9 points, 5 rebounds & 4 assists, playing a similar role for the visiting squad.

The Aggies were not ready to lose their sole possession of the conference championship to New Mexico that easily. They opened the second-half with a 6-0 run thanks to three different players scoring the ball to retake the lead.

Donovan Dent scored New Mexico’s first points of the half with back-to-back driving layups to take back the lead at 48-47. Ian Martinez capitalized on a House turnover with a three pointer giving that lead right back to Utah State.

Out of a commercial timeout Josh Uduje earned his first two points of the game with two free throws to extend the Aggie lead out to 52-48. Only for that lead to be chopped at by House’s first three pointer of the game on the other end.

Each side would exchange a few made field goals after that to rapidly progress the score to 60-57 in just a few minutes of time. Keeping the style & pace of the game fast and effective. The Lobos began relying on three point attempts, finding plenty of success (2-3) while the Aggies made their money any which way they could, mainly at the free throw line.

Baker Jr.’s second three-pointer of the half drove Utah State to call a timeout as the Lobo’s 65-59 lead was setting the scene for a dangerous run. Which when hot, Richard Pitino’s group are as impossible as anyone in the country to catch up with. Just ask the Aggies, who fell victim to such a hot streak back in mid-January in Albuquerque.

Out of the timeout each side would attempt to bank on three pointers to gain a fast edge, neither succeeded. Though after a media timeout gave each side time to once again regroup, Utah State came out swinging. With back-to-back buckets at the rim, shrinking the Lobo lead to just one point, after a Martinez and one opportunity (65-64).

Two more made field goals around the basket kept things close going forward. As JT Toppin began to rediscover his touch around the basket for four straight New Mexico points.

In the midst of a relatively quite night, Mason Falslev drove to the hoop for another layup. Keeping his team to within one point & within striking distance of what was becoming a paper thin Lobo lead.

Another media timeout gave time for Coach Pitino’s group to stop the bleeding & assess the damage before sending Brown II to the free throw line. Those two opportunities he would sink, giving the Aggies back the lead for the first time in over seven minutes.

Dent would tie it up again with a free throw of his own before Martinez sank his third triple of the night on the other end (73-70). He would go on to send Junior-Joseph to the line on the defensive side.

Even after making only one of his two opportunities, Junior-Joseph found a way to tie things up once again with a layup following an Osobor turnover. Keeping fans inside the Spectrum on the edge of their seats as time wound down.

House received his 4th foul of the night soon after, sending Brown II to the line for two more free throws & himself to the bench out of caution with five minutes left to play. As Brown II drained his seventh free throw of the game on one side, Junior-Joseph tied things up once again on the other.

Uduje threw a wrench into the pound for pound style of play with a three pointer. Amzil drained a two-point jumper on the other end to keep New Mexico in it. Now down by just one at 78-77. Soon after he found himself at the charity stripe with a chance to take the lead. Amzil would go 1-2 and tie things up at 78 a piece.

Kalifa Sakho made two huge free throws on the other end to give Utah State the 80-78 lead with a little over two minutes to go in the game. Following a missed House jumper, Falslev drove to the basket in transition to give the Aggies a four point lead. Donovan Dent followed suit with a driving layup of his own to make it a one possession game again.

Sakho would turn the ball over after a New Mexico timeout but Toppin couldn’t capitalize on the other end missing an opportunity down low. Osobor secured the defensive rebound but Martinez couldn’t capitalize himself on the other end.

With a little over a minute left to go an Osobor offensive rebound & miss down low led to a official review under the two minute mark as the ball flew out of bounds.

After the suspense, New Mexico would receive the ball. With the chance to take the lead, the ball went to Donovan Dent. And the super sophomore made it look easy with the game tying layup.

As all seemed destined for overtime, Ian Martinez dunked it home on the other end to give them the 84-82 lead with forty seconds left to go in this nail bitter. You can’t ever tell Jaelen House it’s a lost cause though, as he received the inbound pass, sprinted to the other & drained the two point jumper.

With things all tied up, the ball went into the hands of Utah State’s most experienced player, Darius Brown II. As time chipped away the ball left his hands & the possible game winning three pointer found the bottom of the net to signal the thunderous applause of the home crowd.

As expected, New Mexico took the timeout to set up a possible game tying three pointer. Uduje committed the quick fouled to send House to the line, to take the possible three pointer out of the equation.

After an extremely clutch jumper in their last possession, House would make the first free throw & prepare to miss the second. As only a missed free throw would give New Mexico the chance to send things to overtime with a second chance field goal.

To add insult to injury, House would proceed to miss the second free throw & some questionable play calling (or lack there of) would ensue. Though it didn’t matter. As the final buzzer sounded, students rightfully stormed the court after an extremely successful season & Utah State earned the outright regular season championship after their 87-85 win on senior night.

Coach Pitino would go on to petition the officiating crew after House’s second free throw appeared to have not touched the rim. Something that if noticed & called by the referees would have reset the play & put a few seconds back on the clock. It might not have mattered, but it was an oversight. No such decision was made & both teams called it a night.

The visiting Lobos played valiantly, giving fans across the nation a show the Mountain West is becoming known to produce. Leaving Logan with four players in double-figures, a double-double from Nelly Junior-Joseph (13 points & 10 rebounds) & extremely solid play from it’s stars.

New Mexico fans can only buck up, after losing to the now official Mountain West Regular Season Champions & prepare for the trip next week.

It is the Aggies first outright Mountain West title ever. Not to mention the cherry on top of would could be argued as the most impressive inaugural season for a coach ever by Danny Sprinkle. Who is already seeing his name tied to openings in the upcoming coaching carousel before his team even finishes the season.

To complete the full sweep next week in Las Vegas would be something special. Which, is something this team is totally equipped to do after being picked to finish 9th way back in October of last year.

Player Spotlights

New Mexico F–Mustapha Amzil

Stat line: 18 points, 5 rebounds & 2 assists on 6-8 (75%) from the floor & 3-5 (60%) from deep in 32 minutes off of the bench.

On a team filled with capable scorers, Amzil managed to come off of the bench & be the difference maker for New Mexico Saturday night. Yes, his team didn’t win.

But I don’t think anyone would argue that the Lobos wouldn’t have even come close to a down to the wire performance in Logan without Amzil’s three point shooting & off the bench production His team high 18 points also helped fill the scoring gap left by Jamal Mashburn Jr. as he sat out entirely with an injury.

Utah State G-Darius Brown II

Stat line: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals & 9 assists on 5-9 shooting (55.5%) from the floor, 7-9 (77.7%) from the line & 1 game winner in 39 minutes of action

Brown II showed everyone why he is gearing up for his likely third NCAA Tournament appearance Saturday night. The graduate transfer helped secure Utah State’s first outright Mountain West title with a beautifully clutch game winning three pointer as time expired.

Along with the biggest play of the game he made others, nearly logging an assist featured double-double with 9 assists & only four turnovers. As a few of his teammates waivered in the second-half, he stayed locked in.

Next Up:

With the wrap to the regular season coming tonight, both teams pack their bags & prepare for a trip oh so many of us make in our life. Straight through to Las Vegas baby.

The Lobos haven’t cut down the nets inside the Thomas & Mack center since Craig Neal’s first season in charge over a decade ago. This team has shown brilliant flashes this season, but will head to Vegas as a bottom half seed with their work cut out for them.

While the Aggies haven’t gotten the chance to climb the ladder inside the Thomas & Mack Center since Craig Smith’s first season back in 2018-2019. The same year they shared their last regular season title with Nevada.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos

Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos Can the Lobos upset the Aggies at the Spectrum Follow @MWCwire The Utah State Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC) aim to extend their impressive four-game winning streak as they prepare to face off against the New Mexico …

Utah State Aggies Host New Mexico Lobos

Can the Lobos upset the Aggies at the Spectrum

Follow @MWCwire

The Utah State Aggies (25-5, 13-4 MWC) aim to extend their impressive four-game winning streak as they prepare to face off against the New Mexico Lobos (22-8, 10-7 MWC).

Computer predictions are saying a close game with the Aggies getting the slight edge, the victory 77-75 over the Lobos, so look for a very exciting game to finish regular season play for both teams. 

However, they also predicted the Aggies would win over the Lobos in the PIT earlier this year. Still, the Lobos would have the last say in winning that game in Albuquerque. 

The teams will play the game on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Catch all the action live at 8:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.

In a showdown that left no doubt about Utah State’s dominance, the Aggies stormed to a resounding 90-70 victory over the San Jose State Spartans, extending their winning streak to a formidable four games.

 With their sights set on securing an outright regular-season conference championship, the Aggies (25-5, 13-4 Mountain West Conference) are gearing up to defend their home turf against the New Mexico Lobos (22-8, 10-7) on Saturday in Logan, Utah.

Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Utah State Aggies

Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024 

Location: ExtraMile Arena, Boise, Idaho

Time:  8:30 EST, 6:30 MST

TV: CBS Sports Network

Stream: FuboTV — get a free trial

Play by Play: Radio:  77kob Albuquerque 96.3 FM Robert Portnoy/Hunter Greene

Overall Series: New Mexico leads 56-38

Against San Jose State, Utah State dictated the tempo from the opening tip-off, crafting a commanding 53-37 lead by halftime fueled by an impressive barrage of 13 three-pointers.

 Their offensive onslaught continued unabated as they shot a scorching 53.4 percent from the field and a jaw-dropping 59.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Leading the charge for the Aggies was Darius Brown II, who showcased his sharpshooting prowess with 21 points, including seven triples, along with nine assists and five rebounds.

 Mason Falslev contributed 20 points (seven 3-pointers) and six boards, while Great Osobor added 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Javon Jackson provided a spark off the bench with 15 points of his own.

Reflecting on the team’s stellar performance, Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle praised his players’ unwavering focus and dedication, emphasizing their collective commitment to excellence.

“It’s kind of one of those feelings that’s hard to explain as a coach, but I knew we were going to play terrific tonight,” Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle said after Wednesday’s win. “Our guys were so locked in. They had a team meeting, and it was a players-only deal. I know the ownership of this group. I knew we were going to play at a high-level tonight.”

With the victory, Utah State now stands a full game ahead of Boise State, Nevada, and UNLV in the Mountain West standings, positioning themselves to clinch the coveted No. 1 seed at the upcoming conference tournament in Las Vegas.

The Aggies have a big reason to end the deal and end the year successfully against the Lobos.

Heady Aggie Coach Danny Sprinkle seems the hands-on favorite for Mountain West Conference coach of the year.

What he has done, with no players returning from last year’s squad, to achieve this performance is impressive.

Meanwhile, the Lobos enter the matchup fresh off a 79-58 win over Fresno State, propelled by standout performances from Jamal Mashburn Jr., JT Toppin, and Nelly Junior Joseph.

Notably, JT Toppin showcased an impressive performance with 15 points and 16 rebounds, marking his 10th double-double of the season and extending his Lobo freshman record.

The New Mexico men’s basketball team will wrap up its regular season schedule this Saturday night with a visit to face No. 22 Utah State. 

This matchup marks the Lobos’ sixth encounter this season against a ranked opponent, boasting a 3-2 record in such games. T

The last time UNM secured four victories over teams ranked in the AP poll was during the 2012-13 season, finishing with a flawless 4-0 record.

Currently, the Lobos hold a 22-8 record for the season, with a conference standing of 10-7 in the Mountain West, following their recent 79-58 triumph over Fresno State during Senior Night at The Pit. 

Both teams are ready to give their all on the court in a high stakes battle for conference supremacy, with the stage set for Saturday’s showdown between two very good basketball teams. 

 On the Lobos side of the ball, what head coach Richard Pitino has done over the last few years since AD Eddie Nunez hired him has also been very impressive.

When he started as the head coach for the Lobos and got hired, he took the Lobos from being ranked 303 in the NET rankings to currently sitting at 25 in just a few years.

New Mexico fans should note what this staff has done to bring life back to the PIT and the fans.

The Lobos have 22 wins for the season, the first time that has happened since 2013-2014 the first conference-winning season since 2017-218. 

Last week, the PIT was recognized for having the “Top 25 total attendance” and claiming first place in the Mountain West Conference for Total Average Attendance.

They also have a big incentive in this game: They defeated Utah State in Albuquerque 99-86, holding the Aggies’ stars in check that evening.

The Vegas betting folks predicted an 81-77 victory for the Aggies at the PIT that evening. Still, the Lobos dominated the paint and guard play. 

A victory in Logan would help Lobos’s NET Rankings get them out of the NCAA tournament bubble. Still, most forecasters predict them to be around ten seeds, regardless of the outcome.  

The last thing they can afford is a blowout loss, so look for the Lobos to bring their A-game. The Lobo basketball team is a solid road warrior in big venues and really don’t let crowd noise affect them for the most part. 

With Utah State’s lethal perimeter shooting and New Mexico’s formidable inside presence, fans can expect an electrifying clash between two powerhouse programs vying for postseason glory.

In what promises to be a thrilling showdown, basketball fans will be treated to a skill, intensity, and determination showcase as the Aggies and the Lobos square off in a pivotal matchup with championship implications.

For the Aggies, some players to watch: Great Osobor paces the Aggies with 17.5 points per game and 8.9 rebounds, and Darius Brown II tops the Aggies at 6.3 assists per contest while also posting 4.3 rebounds and 12.2 points.

Mason Falslev posts 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest, shooting 56.6% from the field.

 For Richard Pitino’s Lobos, players to watch: JT Toppin paces the Lobos in rebounding (9.0 per game) and averages 12.5 points and 0.5 assists. He also has 1.1 steals and 2.0 blocked shots.

Toppin is the favorite for the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. His numbers against very tough opponents are impressive.

 Donovan Dent is Lobos’ top assist man (5.6 per game), posting 14.9 points and 2.7 rebounds. Big man Nelly Junior Joseph gets the Lobos 9.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The Lobos have one of the best guard combinations in the MWC with Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn, and these two are lethal when they get going in transition.

In the Mountain West Conference, Richard Pitino’s squad stands out as one of the most formidable teams in terms of raw talent on paper.

 Despite showcasing their potential early in the season, they’ve faced setbacks, notably dropping games they were expected to win, such as the disappointing loss to Air Force.

 However, they become an unstoppable force on the court when they focus their efforts, led by the dynamic guard trio of Dent, House, and Mashburn.

Supported by the Lobo Bigs duo of Nelly Jr Joseph and JT Toppin, alongside stellar contributions from bench players like Mustapha Amzil and Tru Washington, the Lobos can defeat any opponent in the MWC.

The Lobos must play a solid offensive and defensive game to pull the upset. You can bet other MWC foes are rooting for the Lobos to win on Saturday. 

Its just that time of year where there are no excuses, you bring your best game to give your team a good chance to win the game and quiet the fans on the road. 

It’s sure to be an exhilarating matchup as the Lobos aim to showcase their full potential against formidable conference rivals.

 

This game marks a rematch from their Jan. 16 encounter at The Pit, where the Lobos pulled off an upset against the No. 16 Aggies with a score of 99-86, snapping Utah State’s seven-game win streak in the series. 

Notably, Nelly Junior Joseph had a standout performance with a season-high 26 points on 11-12 FGs to lead UNM to victory.

Looking ahead, the Lobos aim to achieve a season series sweep with two ranked wins for the first time since 2010-11, when they secured victories against No. 9 BYU at home and No. 3 BYU in Provo on Jimmer Fredette’s senior night. 

Additionally, UNM seeks to end a six-game losing streak in Logan, targeting their first win at the Smith Spectrum since 2016.

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2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule The schedule is out! Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Get ready for some football! The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes. The league …

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

The schedule is out!

Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Get ready for some football!

The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes.

The league includes Washington State and Oregon State which are quasi-members of the Mountain West.

Those two schools will play seven games against the Mountain West but they are not eligible to win the conference title.

Television assignments for Fox and CBS will be released at a later date.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Delaware State at Hawai‘i
SMU at Nevada
Montana State at New Mexico

Thursday, Aug. 29

Sacramento State at San José State

Saturday, Aug. 31

Merrimack at Air Force
Boise State at Georgia Southern
Colorado State at Texas
Fresno State at Michigan
UCLA at Hawai‘i
Nevada at Troy
New Mexico at Arizona
Texas A&M Commerce at San Diego State
UNLV at Houston
Robert Morris at Utah State
Wyoming at Arizona State
Idaho State at Oregon State
Portland State at Washington State

Saturday, September 7

San José State at Air Force
Boise State at Oregon
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Sacramento State at Fresno State
Georgia Southern at Nevada
Oregon State at San Diego State
Utah Tech at UNLV
Utah State at USC
Idaho at Wyoming
Texas Tech at Washington State

Saturday, September 14

Air Force at Baylor
Colorado at Colorado State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Hawai‘i at Sam Houston
Nevada at Minnesota
New Mexico at Auburn
San Diego State at California
Kennesaw State at San José State
UNLV vs. KansasUtah at Utah State
BYU at Wyoming
Oregon at Oregon State
Washington State vs. Washington

Saturday, September 21

Portland State at Boise State
UTEP at Colorado State
Fresno State at New Mexico
Northern Iowa at Hawai‘i
Eastern Washington at Nevada
San José State at Washington State
Utah State at Temple
Wyoming at North Texas
Purdue at Oregon State

Saturday, September 28

Air Force at Wyoming
Washington State at Boise State
Fresno State at UNLV
New Mexico at New Mexico State
San Diego State at Central Michigan

Saturday, October 5

Navy at Air Force
Utah State at Boise State
Colorado State at Oregon State
Hawai‘i at San Diego State
Nevada at San José State
Syracuse at UNLV

Saturday, October 12

Air Force at New Mexico
Boise State at Hawai‘i
San José State at Colorado State
Washington State at Fresno State
Oregon State at Nevada
San Diego State at Wyoming
UNLV at Utah State

Saturday, October 19

Colorado State at Air Force
Fresno State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Washington State
New Mexico at Utah State
Wyoming at San José State
UNLV at Oregon State

Saturday, October 26

Boise State at UNLV
New Mexico at Colorado State
San José State at Fresno State
Nevada at Hawai‘i
Washington State at San Diego State
Utah State at Wyoming
Oregon State at California

Saturday, November 2

Air Force at Army
San Diego State at Boise State
Colorado State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Fresno State
Wyoming at New Mexico

Saturday, November 9

Fresno State at Air Force
Nevada at Boise State
UNLV at Hawai‘i
New Mexico at San Diego State
San José State at Oregon State
Utah State at Washington State

Saturday, November 16

Oregon State at Air Force
Boise State at San José State
Wyoming at Colorado State
Hawai‘i at Utah State
Washington State at New Mexico
San Diego State at UNLV

Saturday, November 23

Air Force at Nevada
Boise State at Wyoming
Colorado State at Fresno State
San Diego State at Utah State
UNLV at San José State
Washington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 30

Air Force at San Diego State
Oregon State at Boise State
Utah State at Colorado State
Fresno State at UCLA
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nevada at UNLV
Stanford at San José State
Wyoming at Washington State

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Utah State Stands Tall at Home, Beating No. 19 Aztecs 68-63

Game Recap: Utah State 68, No. 19 San Diego State 63 Utah State Stands Tall at Home, Beating Aztecs 68-63 Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire Utah State take sole possession of first place with home win over No. 19 Aztecs. A matchup that is …

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 Game Recap: Utah State 68, No. 19 San Diego State 63

Utah State Stands Tall at Home, Beating Aztecs 68-63

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

Utah State take sole possession of first place with home win over No. 19 Aztecs.

A matchup that is appropriately dubbed the battle for first place in the Mountain West. Of course there is plenty of basketball left to play that could alter anyone’s course to a regular season championship.

But with both Utah State & San Diego State tied for first place in the conference heading into Tuesday night’s primetime matchup, all eyes had to be glued on the heavyweight game happening in Logan. As the fate of the regular season conference race could very well be decided tonight.

The last time these two programs met was earlier this month inside Viejas Arena. The Aztecs received a stellar three-point performance (9-20, 45%) and found their way to the line all night (20-28, 71.4%). Slowing down the game allowed San Diego State to slowly mount a comeback late in the first-half.  Using that same strategy in the second-half ensured they never lost their lead & beat a than No. 17 ranked Utah State team 81-67.

With the tables turned as Utah State welcomed a No. 19 ranked San Diego State squad to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, hoping for a little bit of payback.

A packed homecourt can give teams a spark right out of the gate, something the Aggies took full advantage of with a 6-0 run in the game’s opening minutes. The Aztecs nearly leveled things before back-to-back baskets by Utah State star Great Osobor kept them at bay.

Brian Dutcher’s group took their first lead of the game (11-10) with a Miles Byrd alley oop. That was just one of five lead changes over the next five minutes or so, along with several other ties. A 6-2 run in the final two minutes of play gave the home team some cushion. As a Darius Brown II jump shot as time expired gave the Aggies the 31-26 lead heading into half-time.

With all of the offensive firepower the Aggies boast, floor general Darius Brown II led all scorers at the half with 12 points, off of 5-7 shooting, which included two threes. While LeDee led the Aztecs with 8 points off of 4-6 shooting down low.

The beginning of the second-half began with a quick five points from the Aggies. San Diego State was quick to respond, or should I say Jaedon LeDee was, with two quick field goals of his own.

After that, Osobor responded with his own 5-0 run on the other end. San Diego State would then go on to miss three consecutive three point jumpers on consecutive possessions, before an Aggie defensive board ended their misery.

As the Aztecs struggled to find success from the floor for the next couple of minutes, they earned their points elsewhere. With four straight free throw makes to bring things to within four (41-37).

Utah State would respond with scoring from three different players, to go on an 8-2 run which included back-to-back three points. Extending their lead to double-digits & ignited the crowd heading into the media timeout.

Brian Dutcher’s group took that time to regroup, with a quick 5-0 run out of the timeout to bring things back to within single digits. It became the theme of the night, as the Aztecs would gain a little momentum & shrink their deficit just for Utah State to do the same & extend it again.

Osobor & Brown II had plenty to do with that for the Aggies, while LeDee had the hot hand for San Diego State. Things slowed down as the game approached the final five minutes of play, but as that happened the Aztecs went on yet another run.

This time a 7-0 run that brought their deficit to just one point (59-58) and was filled with defensive stops. That was enough to force Coach Sprinkle to call a timeout, with 4:37 left in the game.

Luckily for the home crowd, Isaac Johnson was able to capitalize out of that timeout after a missed three pointer by Ian Martinez. This would be followed by a couple of misses from each squad before a Lamont Butler offensive foul ended things before the last media timeout.

Out of that timeout, the man with the hot hand took the three point shot. As Brown II’s shot failed to go in, a Utah State offensive board led to another opportunity from beyond the arc, that one was clean from the graduate transfer.

With time in short supply in Logan, the ball went to LeDee & as he attempted to make the layup, Osobor was there to send it away.

Jay Pal would go on to miss a three on the other end, but LeDee wasn’t prepared to quit just yet and drew a foul that sent him to the line. He would drain those free ones, but it was still a two possession game (64-60).

The Aztec gameplan after that you may ask, foul. Mason Falslev would drain his two shots at the line and made way for Brown II to head to the line immediately after him. As things seemed out of reach for San Diego State, now down 68-60. Miles Byrd hit his only three pointer of the game. But it was too late.

The W stayed in Logan Tuesday night, with Utah State defending their home court with a 68-63 win to take sole possession of first place in the Mountain West.

San Diego State was led by Jaedon LeDee and his 23 points, 15 of which came in the second-half. He was joined in double figures by Reese Waters (11 points) & Miles Byrd (10 points). The Aztecs had a decent night shooting from the floor (24-56, 42.9%), but struggled from deep (3-19, 15.8%).

Utah State simply shot just a tad better. Shooting 25-51 (49%) from the field & a poor but respectable 7-22 (31.8%) from beyond the arc. That figure not see that impressive, but the Aggies sank 4-10 three pointers in the second-half.

Thanks to Darius Brown, who had 13 of his 25 points during that time (including 3-5 3FGs). Other Aggies in double-figures include Mason Falslev with 10 points & Great Osobor with 17 points (13 also in the second-half.

“Everybody had their hand in it, our team is so together. That’s what makes this group special. They know we didn’t win a championship tonight, we have to continue to get better.” said Coach Sprinkle in the post game press conference. “I’m just really proud of their effort & the response they had coming off the Colorado State game.”

Player Spotlights

San Diego State F-Jaedon LeDee

Stat line: 23 points & 6 rebounds on 8-13 (61.5%) from the floor & 7-9 (77.7%) from the line in 33 minutes of action

You can’t say LeDee didn’t bring his A-Game to the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum Tuesday night. Accounting for over a third of his team’s offensive production as the Aztec’s attempted to keep up with the second highest scoring team in the conference (80.1 PPG).

His consistent scoring is a big part of the reason why the Aztecs were able to hang around until the final buzzer. It wasn’t enough to help his squad secure the road win but LeDee continues to make his case for All-American Honors.

Utah State G–Darius Brown II

Stat line: 25 points, 4 rebounds, & 2 assists on 8-13 (61.5%) shooting from the floor, including 5-9 (55.5%) from deep in an impressive 39 minutes of action

Brown II left everything on the floor Tuesday night, only missing one minute of action as the offensive threat Danny Sprinkle couldn’t afford to leave on the bench for a single minute longer. As the Aztecs created continuous defensive spurts to keep their hosts within arms reach, not all of Utah State’s usual offensive weapons were firing.

In comes Brown II, who although has proven himself as a scorer in Logan multiple times this season. Isn’t Utah State’s go-to scorer most nights either. But against the Aztecs he flourished, especially from beyond the arc. His game high 25 points were the difference maker for his squad tonight.

Three Takeaways:

  • Both sides plaid to their advantages on Tuesday night. The Aztecs were able to slow the Aggies down at times, but those defensive stops came in spurts. Which was what the high scoring offense of Utah State needed to pull the “upset”. It may not have been a nail biter but the Aggies showed up and handled their business. Further feeding into the legend that is Danny Sprinkle in Logan.
  • San Diego State didn’t come into this one with the offensive firepower capable of outscoring the Aggies. Yes they had LeDee & some other players certainly capable of scoring, but they excel when they can strongarm their opponent defensively. Utah State simply made more shots, not a bad loss for San Diego State but indicative of the Mountain West gauntlet.
  • Utah State took sole possession of first place in the Mountain West with their win Tuesday night. It was an important win, as the Aggies only have four more games in conference play before head to Las Vegas in March. The only truly threatening game left on their schedule is at home against New Mexico in the last game of the regular season. Yes all aspects of that game would likely paint Utah State as the favorites, but this conference championship could be decided by just one game or even a half. So a major win at home against the conference juggernaut was key.

Next Up:

The Aggies get some time off before they head on the road to take on the Bulldogs in Fresno next Tuesday. Justin Hutson’s squad doesn’t necessarily exuberate upset alert this year. But remember any team can win on any given night.

that game tips off on February 27th at 8:00 PM MT and can be seen on the Mountain West Network.

While the Aztecs stay on the road to take a run at Fresno State themselves on Saturday February 24th. San Diego State needs to win every single remaining game on their schedule. Especially with a rematch against Boise State to end the regular season.

Their clash with the Bulldogs can be seen on CBS Sports & tips off at 7:00 PM PT.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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Utah State Basketball: Danny Sprinkle Earns 100th Career Victory Tuesday Night

Utah State Basketball: Danny Sprinkle Earns 100th Career Victory Tuesday Night Coach Sprinkle has continued his winning ways in Logan. Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire First year Head Coach Danny Sprinkle earns 100th career victory, nineteen …

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Utah State Basketball: Danny Sprinkle Earns 100th Career Victory Tuesday Night

Coach Sprinkle has continued his winning ways in Logan.

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

First year Head Coach Danny Sprinkle earns 100th career victory, nineteen earned in Logan.

No. 17 Utah State is riding a three game winning streak after their 82-61 win over visiting San Jose State. The win added to the Aggies momentum after a visit to New Mexico ended a then fifteen game winning streak which garnered the program attention regionally & would eventually lead to national recognition.

The recognition is warranted, given the fact that a first year head coach coming from a different level of basketball having success almost immediately is usually unheard of. But Danny Sprinkle is doing it. Doing it with an entirely new roster & no returners from last season, also unheard of even in this day and age.

Tuesday night’s home win before the Aggies head on the road to what everyone in the conference knows is a hard place to win, Viejas Arena. Though that’s days away, plenty of days to plan, prepare & rest. But also days to celebrate. Celebrating Danny Sprinkle’s 100th career win as a head coach in just four and a half short seasons.

The former Montana State standout was given the job back in the spring of 2019. The former Bobcat player spent four years at the helm in Bozeman. Starting off a tad bumpy in an industry navigating covid-19 like every else.

Coach Sprinkle turned things around in year three and four, posting 25+ wins, 1 regular season championship, 2 conference tournament championships & back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths.

The 47 year-old year old Sprinkle turned those results & a near upset of No. 3 seeded Kansas State last March into a job offer from one of the Mountain West’s most underrated jobs.

Since being named the head man at Utah State, a job that has seen their last two head coaches poached for other opportunities, Sprinkle continues to shine. With his Aggies picked to finish 9th in the Mountain West back in October, Utah State

Utah State is 18-2 (7-1) on the year with rankings of 22nd (NET) & 31st (KenPom), four consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 & are in sole possession of first place in one of the more competitive iterations of the Mountain West in recent memory.

For now the future looks bright in Logan. Even though a job offer from a high major conference seems likely down the road. Aggie fans can enjoy the Magic Danny Sprinkle and company have brought with them from Bozeman.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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New Mexico Upsets No. 16 Utah State By Double Digits

New Mexico Upsets No. 16 Utah State By Double Digits Huge home Lobo win Follow @MWCwire Mountain West is tough New Mexico’s men’s basketball team secured its second consecutive victory against a ranked opponent by defeating No. 16 Utah State with a …

New Mexico Upsets No. 16 Utah State By Double Digits

Huge home Lobo win

Follow @MWCwire

Mountain West is tough

New Mexico’s men’s basketball team secured its second consecutive victory against a ranked opponent by defeating No. 16 Utah State with a score of 99-86 at The Pit in Albuquerque. 

In a standout performance, Nelly Joseph notched a season-high 26 points. Donovan Dent contributed 15 points and a career-high 14 assists, propelling New Mexico to a convincing 99-86 victory over No. 16 Utah State on Tuesday night.

With a well-distributed scoring effort, six Lobos players reached double figures, including Jaelen House, who added 14 points. 

The win ended New Mexico’s seven-game losing streak against the Aggies.

This victory followed New Mexico’s previous success against then-No. 19 San Diego State on Saturday, showcasing the team’s impressive back-to-back wins against ranked opponents.

The Lobos now boast a 15-3 overall record and a 3-2 standing in Mountain West play, while the Aggies’ overall record falls to 16-2 with a 4-1 mark in Mountain West play. 

Notably, Utah State experienced the end of their 15-game winning streak and a seven-game streak against the Lobos.

This marks the Lobos’ second consecutive “Quad 1” victory, a metric determined by an opponent’s NET ranking improving its resume for post-season action. 

The NET ranking is a crucial factor considered by the NCAA Selection Committee when determining team invitations to the NCAA Tournament in March.

Nelly Junior Joseph delivered a standout performance with a season-high 26 points, shooting 11-of-12 and contributing eight rebounds and five blocks. 

In consecutive matchups, the Pit welcomed AP Top 25 teams boasting star big men and flawless conference records. The Lobos emerged victorious for the second straight game in an impressive feat.

Lobo’s formidable big man, Nelly Junior Joseph, showcased dominance on Tuesday, tallying a season-high 26 points with an impressive 11-of-12 shooting, a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, along with eight rebounds, five blocked shots, and three steals. 

The UNM Lobos triumphed convincingly against No. 16 Utah State with a final score of 99-86, captivating an enthusiastic late-night crowd of 13,106.

Expressing his satisfaction, UNM Lobos coach Richard Pitino hailed the win as significant for the program, particularly achieving back-to-back victories against ranked teams. The Lobos’ offensive prowess was evident, with a remarkable 57% shooting accuracy, 21 assists, and a mere seven turnovers.

Pitino expressed his gratitude to the passionate fans, emphasizing the challenge of playing in a late-night game at 8:45 p.m. 

The impressive turnout of over 13,000 spectators added to the team’s momentum, making the Pit a formidable venue when the Lobos play well together. 

The Lobo fans, without question, are some of the nation’s most loyal fans showing up midweek on the late game, and it was louder than…. For sure! 

This writer’s Apple watch was measuring and warning of the sound levels at 95 decibels, and it was so loud you could not hear yourself speak. 

Donovan Dent contributed 15 points and a career-high 14 assists for his third double-double of the season. 

Dent’s remarkable 14 assists stand as the highest for a Lobo since Darrell McGee achieved 16 against BYU on January 5, 1989.

The Lobos showcased balanced scoring, with Jaelen House, JT Toppin, Mustapha Amzil, and Jamal Mashburn, Jr. each reaching double figures.

The game featured an impressive defensive display by the Lobos, who recorded 12 steals and 10 blocks. 

This marked the first occurrence of double-figure blocks and steals in a single game for UNM since the 2011-12 season.

The match saw a competitive first half, with the Lobos initially taking the lead and finishing the half with a 55-39 advantage.

 In the second half, they extended their lead to 20 points but faced challenges from Utah State, who managed to cut the margin. However, the Lobos maintained control and secured a 99-86 victory.

Noteworthy achievements included Dent’s exceptional 14 assists, the most by a Lobo in a game since 1989, and Joseph’s remarkable shooting performance.

 The Lobos also achieved consecutive wins against ranked opponents for the first time since 2011-12.

Head coach Richard Pitino expressed pride in the team’s performance, acknowledging the significance of back-to-back wins against ranked teams.

The Lobos will now embark on a two-game road trip, starting with a matchup against Air Force on Saturday in Colorado Springs. 

The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 2 p.m. MT

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New Mexico vs. No. 16 Utah State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More

New Mexico vs. No. 16 Utah State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More Can the Lobos pull off the encore & secure back-to-back top-25 win? Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire New Mexico hosts No. 16 Utah State, in search of second …

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New Mexico vs. No. 16 Utah State: Game Preview, How To Watch, Prediction & More

Can the Lobos pull off the encore & secure back-to-back top-25 win?

Contact/Follow @HardwoodTalk & @MWCwire

New Mexico hosts No. 16 Utah State, in search of second straight top-25 win.

WHO: New Mexico (14-3, 2-2 in the MWC) vs. No. 16 Utah State (16-1, 4-0 in the MWC)

WHEN: Tuesday, January 16th, 8:30 PM MT

WHERE: University Arena aka “The Pit”, Albuquerque, NM

TELEVISION: FS1

STREAM:  FuboTV – Get a free trial

Line: KenPom ($), The Lobos are favored by 4 Points

Encore performances are a beautiful aspect of all kinds of entertainment, sports included. The ability to satisfy an audience’s demand of an incredible performance is special. And believe me Lobo fans are demanding an encore against No. 16 Utah State on Tuesday night.

It’s a big ask, but the Lobos haven’t even had the chance at back-to-back top-25 wins since 2012. They were actually presented with three such opportunities that year, all against San Diego State & UNLV. Their first two meetings resulted in losses, while the Lobos swept the next four.

New Mexico is coming off of what can be argued the biggest win of the Richard Pititno era in Albuquerque Saturday afternoon. When they welcomed a nationally ranked rival in San Diego State and performed a comeback for the ages.

The rest of conference play isn’t going to be a cake walk, it never is. But the momentum built on Saturday needs to be carried over against Utah State. That’s if the Lobos still have March Madness aspirations.

Because Utah State is enjoying an incredible inaugural year in the Danny Sprinkle era in Logan. In year one, Coach Sprinkle has managed to produce a 15-game winning streak including a 4-0 start in conference play. Not to mention the program’s first top-25 ranking since 2019. The program is absolutely rolling, continuing to be a mid-major jumping off point for up and coming coaches.

Tuesday night’s matchup against one of the hottest programs in college basketball is important to say the least. That 15-game Aggie winning streak is also the longest in the nation. And as of Monday, Utah State is the sole Mountain West team in the AP Top-25. After a tough week left the likes of Colorado State & San Diego State bruised and beaten out of the rankings all together.

So on a night filled with Mountain West action, the game with the most weight, might be in Albuquerque.

Players to Watch:

G Jaelen House–New Mexico

23-24 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.3 RPG, 2.7 SPG & 38.5% 3FG

Last time out: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals on 7-16 (43.8%) shooting, including 4-9 (44.4%) from deep against No. 19 San Diego State

House is fun to watch, whether you love him or hate him, he’s good for college basketball. As his passion and never give up attitude on the floor resembles a video game cheat code, just ask San Diego State.

Without House’s resurgence and continued hustle on both sides of the ball, I’m not sure the Lobos even make it close. He is the x-factor for New Mexico and likely a focal point of Utah State’s gameplan.

F Great Osobor-Utah State

23-24 Stats: 18.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 BPG & 58.5% FG

Last time out: 24 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks on 6-12 (50%) shooting, including 12-13 (92.3%) from the free throw line against UNLV

Great Osobor is an absolute tank down low. A tank with great hands to go along with a great feel around the rim. He moves well in transition and is on the receiving end of plenty of passes from fellow former Bobcat Darius Brown II. Who just happens to rank 3rd in the entire nation for assists (7.4).

Osobor is enjoying a red hot breakout season, logging double-digit scoring outputs in all of but two games so far. That also includes eight 20+ games and eight double doubles. If the Aggies are looking to secure another quad 1 win to add to their resume, a good night from Osobor is key.

Keys to the Game

For New Mexico:  Interior Defense, Get to the line & Defend the perimeter

The Lobos didn’t look well balanced in the first ten minutes or so against San Diego State. They eventually found their defensive rhythm & put an end to the Aztec’s slow but potent offense.

It took a little longer to figure out how to put points in the basket after shooting horribly to start the game. The solution, three guards shooting a combined 12-12 from the free throw line when nothing else seemed to fall.

On the defensive side, it was 14 blocks (11 in the first half) & 8 steals. Ten of those blocks belonged to the Lobos’ frontcourt starters. They’ll need a similar performance against one of the toughest interior matchups in the country right now, Great Osobor.

For Utah State:  Solid looks for Osobor, Ball Security & Clog the lanes

Some nights Great Osobor is a walking bucket. A walking 6’8 245 pound wrecking ball with great hands type of bucket. With a completely new roster, it’s obvious now that Osobor was the gem of this recruiting class. He’ll need a big night against a Lobo squad that hasn’t been known for their interior defense all season.

The Aggies will also need top notch ball security as the Lobos are one of the best teams in the country at creating offense off of turnovers. Lastly, Utah State will have to clog the lanes & force New Mexico to the free throw line to earn their points or to take & make the three (which has proven to be impossible some nights).

Prediction: New Mexico 80, Utah State 76

The power of the Pit was on full display Saturday afternoon. But a sold out & ruckus crowd isn’t always enough to secure two consecutive wins over top-25 caliber opponents. The Lobos need a similar offensive & defensive balance that gave them their weekend upset.

KenPom has New Mexico as 4-point favorites, which feels accurate given these two teams offensive capabilities. As the Lobos and Aggies are leading the conference in scoring at number one and two. It might just come down to who gets there first.

Larry Muniz covers college basketball as a writer for Mountain West Wire and WAC Hoops Digest. Also as a co-host of the college basketball podcast “Hoops Talk W/Jay & Larry”. He is also a USWBA Member.

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The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21 The Falcons Nuke the Dukes Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire After going winless in the month of November, following an 8-0 start to the season, Air Force corrects course …

The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Runs Over James Madison 31-21

The Falcons Nuke the Dukes

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

After going winless in the month of November, following an 8-0 start to the season, Air Force corrects course by winning the Armed Forces Bowl in convincing fashion. The Falcons wore out the Dukes by a score of 31-21.

Entering the contest, the Dukes of JMU were favored, and for good reason. They just capped off a 12-1 campaign, and feature one of the top passing attacks in the country, and what was statistically the stoutest defense against the run nationally. Air Force said hold my beer.

JMU learned early on what many do the hard way; Air Force is built different. There aren’t any teams on the Dukes schedule that pose the kind of problems that the Falcons do, in particular in the run game. James Madison was averaging just 2 yards per carry allowed, and 62 yards per game on the ground for the season. Senior fullback, Emmanuel Michel pounded the Dukes for over 200 rush yards and two tudd’s on his own.

It was a great way to end the season, winning their 9th game of the season over a very good opponent. The Air Force seniors really showed up and impacted the game; from an unblockable Bo Richter being a menace and disrupting the Dukes offense all game long, to John Lee Eldridge III and Emmanuel Michel shredding JMU’s vaunted defense, Jonathan Youngblood’s interception and Zach Larrier’s flawless execution of the offense behind the road grading Diesel’s, the senior stars shined the brightest.

The Air Force Fightin’ Falcons have won their fifth consecutive Bowl Game, and are Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Champions!

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PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews

PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews There are four bowl games this week Contact/Follow @MWCwire Bowl season continues Jeremy and Josh get into the second wave of bowl games with four bowl games this week. A trio of games on Saturday …

PODCAST: Week 2 Of Mountain West Bowl Previews

There are four bowl games this week

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Bowl season continues

Jeremy and Josh get into the second wave of bowl games with four bowl games this week. A trio of games on Saturday featuring San Jose State, Utah State, and Air Force. Then a post Christmas bowl game with UNLV getting a challenge with Kansas.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Getting To Know The Georgia State Panthers

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Getting To Know The Georgia State Panthers Utah State is facing a team that has been hit hard by the portal Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Who are the Aggies playing? Utah State is taking on Georgia State in the Famous …

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Getting To Know The Georgia State Panthers

Utah State is facing a team that has been hit hard by the portal

Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Who are the Aggies playing?

Utah State is taking on Georgia State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and to get to know the Sun Belt team, we reached out to Brady Weiler who covers the Panthers for 247Sports.

We go through the portal, key players and how will Georgia State handled the cold of Boise, Idaho, this weekend.

The portal is huge in college football, how has this impacted Georgia State since the end of the regular season?

Let’s go with “greatly”. The portal has greatly impacted Georgia State in advance of this bowl game.

Leading running back Marcus Carroll (1,350 yards, 13 TDs this season) has entered the portal and since committed to Missouri. Likewise, top wide receiver Robert Lewis (877 yards, 7 TDs) has moved to Auburn, starting right tackle Montavious Cunningham to Virginia Tech and one of the starting cornerbacks Bryquice Brown to Boston College. And add on to that left tackle Travis Glover and leading tackler and starting inside linebacker Jontrey Hunter leaving early to begin their work prepping for the 2024 NFL Draft. This will be a very new-look team for GSU on Saturday, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

What is the excitement level for Georgia State fans for this bowl game?

For all the above personnel-related reasons, plus the fact the team ended the regular season on a 5-game skid after starting the year 6-1 AND the fact that this game is not easily travelable from the other side of the country, it’d be fair to say vibes are pretty low in Panther Nation.

There’s a growing consensus opinion that head coach Shawn Elliott, wrapping up his seventh season in Atlanta, has taken the program as far as he can and fans are growing increasingly vocal that they want to see a new HC try and tap into a greater ceiling. So Coach Elliott is in an unenviable spot where a win here doesn’t do much to improve the feeling around the fanbase but a sixth straight loss and a losing 6-7 final record would do some additional harm.

Georgia State started 6-1 but then ended 6-6, what happened during the losing streak?

Good question! I have to be honest up front and say it’s a real mystery. Sometimes when you see this type of late-season nosedive from a team, you can chalk it up to some major loss due to injury. But Georgia State can honestly say it was fortunate on the injury front for the entire season.

The problems started, funnily enough, in the second half of their most recent win, a 20-17 victory at Louisiana on October 23. They escaped with the W and locked up bowl eligibility thanks to a Gavin Pringle interception in the end zone in the game’s final minute, but it had been a 20-0 lead that all but evaporated over the course of the second half. The offense which had been rolling to that point of the year lost its mojo in a major way in that second half and they never regained it for the rest of the year.

They got down by as much as 34-7 at their rival Georgia Southern the following Thursday, and though they fought back a little in that second half, it was still a heavy 44-27 loss. What followed were two identical, ugly losses – dropping contests by a score of 42-14 to each of James Madison and Appalachian State. And after holding on to that three-score lead at Louisiana earlier, in the regular season finale at Old Dominion, the Panthers blew a 21-0 lead and lost this time 25-24 on a Grant Wilson touchdown run as time expired.

For whatever reason, the team – and specifically the offense – wilted down the stretch and stopped making the “winning plays” they’d been making as they rolled to six wins out of their first seven games.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: First Look At The Georgia State Panthers

Who are the key players that Utah State needs to know about, and who could step up for players who hit the portal?

Even if the Panthers were at full strength without any of the aforementioned portal entrants, the number one player who demands Utah State’s attention more than anyone else in blue and white would still be quarterback Darren Grainger. A true dual threat, Grainger is playing his last game for the Panthers on Saturday after being the team’s starting QB for the bulk of the last three seasons. This season, he improved his accuracy on passing greatly – completing 67% of his passes for 2,364 yards – while still giving opposing defenses fits with his legs, rushing for 625 yards and 8 scores. DG is the focal point of this offense, and the departures the team is dealing with will only make his contribution more valuable to the team on Saturday.

Maine transfer RB Freddie Brock should slide in to replace Carroll, and while he only has 6 carries for 31 yards to his name in a Georgia State uniform, he amassed 1,145 yards rushing in his three seasons at the FCS level. If the rushing lanes are there, Brock should be up to the task of filling in. And that’s where the real key change for GSU’s offense comes up – the new offensive line. Only left guard Jonathan Brown remains of the starting offensive line for much of the season for the Panthers. Walk-on Ben Chukwuma will take Glover’s spot at left tackle and usual right guard Trevor Timmons is kicking outside to play right tackle.

Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out And Transfer Tracker

Defensively, Hunter and Brown will be losses that defensive coordinator Chad Staggs will have to reckon with. But the one benefit Staggs has at his disposal is the fact that inside linebacker is probably the Panthers’ deepest position on defense. Super-senior Jordan Veneziale and sophomore Josiah Robinson, the latter of whom followed Staggs from his last stop at Coastal Carolina, should see increased roles alongside incumbent starter Justin Abraham. Coverage is going to be where the ILB group is tested without Hunter, a former safety and OLB who possessed great coverage skills for an inside backer. They’ll need to lean on the solid safety pairing of Jeremiah Johnson and TyGee Leach in the middle of the field.

As for the opening spot at CB, redshirt freshman Izaiah Guy did fill in for Brown earlier in 2023 when Brown was saddled with an injury and Guy more than held his own. Gavin Pringle has another year of eligibility after transferring in from Bucknell and Guy figures to begin 2024 as the starting corner on the other side, so this will be a chance for Panther fans – and the coaching staff – to get an early look at what should be their team’s CB tandem next season. And they’ll certainly be tested by the talented receivers Utah State possesses.

Weather-wise, this is way different from Georgia and Sun Belt games with it being colder, what have been discussions about prepping for that? Some teams do some different things in new weather environments.

It’s a topic that has definitely come up for this bowl game, but I get the feeling Georgia State coaches and players are fine with it. Coach Elliott openly asked for it to be a snow game in last week’s media availability. And while they may not be as hardened to the elements as their coach – who spent his college days up on the mountains on Boone, NC, at Appalachian State – Darren Grainger mentioned that they had been checking weather apps and noticing the temperature had been lower in Atlanta on some practice days this month than the temperature in Boise.

I’ve seen through the practice photos released by GSU Athletics that players are certainly layering up more than would for a usual gameday at Center Parc Stadium, but it has been an unseasonably cold month in the A and the additional time spent in Boise as a part of this bowl trip should help them acclimate to whatever the weather gods have in store for Saturday.

How do you see this game playing out?

I teased it before, but the single biggest key to this game is going to be how Georgia State’s almost entirely new offensive line meshes. I do think Grainger and Brock can rack up yards on the ground if there are holes that open up, but if the OL can’t get any push and the offense can’t stay on the field, it could be a long afternoon in Boise for the Panthers. Grainger does not have his top weapon at WR in Robert Lewis, but Tailique Williams has elite top-line speed and Ja’Cyais Credle – who has missed most of the season due to injury – has been a deep threat that this passing attack has leaned on in the past. With a month to prep, it will be interesting to see what offensive coordinator Trent McKnight schemes up to make the most of what he’s got.

Defensively, Georgia State will have to be ready for the threat that Utah State’s (presumed) starting QB Levi Williams poses with his legs while also accounting for top WR Jalen Royals and the Aggies’ weapon in the slot, Terrell Vaughn. The golden ticket for the Panthers’ defense will be their ability to get after the QB. The Aggies are tied for 119th in FBS with 41 sacks allowed this season. Georgia State’s D has a solid yet unspectacular tally of 27 sacks, but against every team they faced that’s allowed 30+ sacks to date, they had at least 3. That includes the program record 8 they collected in their loss at ODU.

I think this will be an interesting clash of offensive styles that will hinge on the Panthers’ ability to weather the losses they’ve suffered through postseason roster attrition. If they can make lemonade out of the lemons they’ve been handed, this should be a fun game throughout. But if the roster churn rears its ugly head, the high-scoring Utah State offense could turn this into that forgettable blowout that happens every bowl season.

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