This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Logan • With 13 wins in 15 games and a 2-0 start in Western Athletic Conference play, one would think that the mood around Utah State would be a good one.

Think again.

Following the Aggies' 80-71 victory against San Jose State on Friday night, nobody associated with the USU program was happy. Not the players. Not the coaches. Certainly not head coach Stew Morrill.

"Someone is going to believe me when I say we're not a good team," Morrill said. "We are a very average WAC team right now. We better get better, or else we'll finish in the middle of the WAC or lower. That is a fact. We have a long way to go. Our players need to realize it, and we need to practice and get better."

There were several things that contributed to Morrill being "as angry as I've been since becoming the coach at Utah State."

There was a lack of energy, especially in the first half. Utah State surrendered too much penetration to Spartan guards Justin Graham and Adrian Oliver. The Aggies turned the ball over too much, especially the point guards. USU's Pooh Williams incurred a technical foul.

Most of all, Morrill said, there's a lack of leadership among the seniors.

"I really didn't take care of the ball tonight," Utah State point guard Brockeith Pane said. "I had six turnovers. That's way too many turnovers for a point guard. I didn't like that at all."

That being said, Pane's scoring probably saved the Aggies before 6,732 at the Spectrum. The junior scored a game-high 21 points, had seven assists and five rebounds. He scored 15 of those points in the first half, when Tai Wesley was on the bench in foul trouble and USU was having problems making shots.

With a 39-38 lead at halftime, Utah State played much better in the final 20 minutes.

Wesley dominated stretches of the second half, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Tyler Newbold scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and freshman point guard James Walker came up with six huge second-half points.

The Aggies took over with a 13-2 run midway through the second half, turning a close 56-54 game into a comfortable 69-56 advantage. USU's ability to score inside and from the perimeter allowed it to take control.

"I thought we responded really well in the second half," Morrill said. "But I shouldn't have to act like an idiot at halftime for us to play well."

The Aggies became the first team all season to shoot 50 percent or better against the Spartans. They've now won eight consecutive games overall and six straight against San Jose State.

Oliver, who had NBA scouts watching him against USU, led the Spartans with 18 points, despite playing with flulike symptoms.

tjones@sltrib.comTwitter: @tonyaggieville —

Highlights

R Utah State wins its eighth consecutive game.

• The Aggies take control with a 13-2 second-half run.

• Brockeith Pane scores 21 points for USU in the win.