Reno, Nev. » Utah State had been warned beforehand what could happen. The Aggies didn't listen, and they also hadn't seen a half of basketball like Nevada displayed Saturday night.

The Wolf Pack rained down threes and did everything right in the opening 20 minutes, while the Aggies could only watch in wonder under the assault of Armon Johnson and Luke Babbitt. If it hadn't been so embarrassing, USU may have applauded, too.

Nevada built a 23-point lead, then held on to grab an 84-71 Western Athletic Conference victory in the Lawlor Events Center.

"We didn't listen to [Utah State coach Stew Morrill]," said USU forward Tai Wesley, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds. "He warned us; we didn't listen."

The ingredients were in place for a proper spanking. Nevada (17-11, 9-5 WAC) was coming off a bad loss to last-place Fresno State, while Utah State (26-4, 13-2) was just two days removed from celebrating a conference championship.

Nevada, led by a combined 27 first-half points by Johnson and Babbitt, blew out to a 41-18 lead. USU managed to shave the UN advantage to 15 at intermission, and actually pulled to within seven with nearly seven minutes remaining.

The Aggies had a couple of chances to pull closer but missed some open looks beyond the three-point arc.

"We played harder," Morrill said of the Aggies' second-half push. "It's a simple game sometimes."

Ultimately, Utah State dug itself too deep a hole. It was a lesson learned, however, and USU is looking forward to a possible rematch when the WAC tournament is played in Lawlor in two weeks.

"You love to play these types of games," said USU post Gary Wilkinson, who battled through back problems to score 16 points. "I love the intensity."

Wilkinson also said the game was lesson learned for those Aggies who hadn't played at Nevada before.

"They didn't understand what it takes to come in here and win," he said. "They came out fired up. We came out not listening to what the coaches had to say."

The game wasn't 10 minutes old and Nevada already had connected on four of six from three-point range. The Wolf Pack finished the half six of 11 from beyond the arc.

"We had some guys some guys hit big shots," Babbitt said.

Johnson, Nevada's talented sophomore guard, led all scorers with 28 points, while Babbitt added 21. It was Johnson who finally put the lid on USU's attempted comeback with back-to-back baskets in the waning moments.

"That a sign of the balance of the league," said Nevada coach Mark Fox, referencing the loss at Fresno State followed by the win Saturday. "We beat a terrific basketball team and we had to play a complete game to win."

Utah State had actually pulled to within 11 points early on in the second half when Morrill was hit with a technical foul by referee Eric Curry, standing at the far end of the court. Morrill had actually been yelling at official Mike Scyphers most of the night before catching the "T."

Babbitt, who had been fouled prior to the technical, sank four consecutive free throws to push the game back to 62-45.

"We came out a little flat, but it was pretty much their level of play," Morrill said afterward. "Their two premier players played extremely well. We've been here enough times to know what we were in for."

Not everyone, it seems, got the message.

martyr@sltrib.com