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Logan • When it comes to Utah State's next fabled basketball player, Jalen Moore is looking more and more like he's destined for the part.

Midway through his sophomore season, Moore has established himself as the Aggies' cornerstone. He's their leading scorer. He's their top rebounder. He's the face of the program.

And how 'bout that Afro, which is longer than a Cache Valley winter?

"It's fun to be a little different," Moore said. "It's nice to be known for something other than your game. … I have no plans on cutting it anytime soon."

Moore started growing his 1970s-style hair about three years ago, when he attended Sky View High in Smithfield, because "I just didn't think I looked good with it shorter."

These days, the only thing more noticeable than Moore's hair is his play on the court and improvement from last season, when he started five games and averaged 5.6 points.

"What I love most about Jalen," said Utah State coach Stew Morrill, "is that he gives himself a chance to improve because of his mental state. He is stable, solid and doesn't vary a whole lot from day to day and in games."

A natural small forward, Moore has played out of position most of the season because the Aggies lack size and depth in the frontcourt. So Morrill has used him mostly at power forward, where his quickness and ability to take bigger opponents to the perimeter have been major assets.

"There was a lot thrust on Jalen's plate," Morrill said. "… He's 19 and we're asking him to be our most experienced guy — to provide leadership and play well. He has done that. He's leading us."

Jimmy Moore is Jalen's father. He is a former Utah State player and assistant coach who is now the assistant athletic director for special projects and a member of the school's Hall of Fame.

"I've been so proud of Jalen because he's been so consistent," the senior Moore said. "He's done whatever his team has needed him to do. His game is flexible enough to do whatever the team needs at the time."

Jimmy Moore recalls the first time the youngest of his two sons flashed the ability that foreshadowed his future in basketball.

As coach of a traveling youth team, he let fourth-grader Jalen come along on some trips. He practiced against players who were at least two years older.

"Just watching him compete against those kids was fun," Jimmy Moore said. "Then, one day, he made this move to the basket. My assistant coach looked at me and we said, 'Wow.'"

Heading into Tuesday night's game against Mountain West Conference leader Wyoming, Jalen Moore averages 15.8 points and seven rebounds.

He has scored at least 10 points in 18 of 19 games, including 17 straight. That's the longest streak by a sophomore in Utah State history. His season low of eight points came Nov. 16 in a 60-55 win at Illinois State.

Even when Moore hasn't been at the top of his game, he's usually produced when the Aggies needed him.

In Saturday's 79-77 overtime loss at UNLV, Moore had only two points with 3:51 left in regulation, when he made his first field goal. He ended up scoring eight of Utah State's final nine points in regulation before finishing with 14.

"I just try to be leader," Moore said. "I try to get everybody playing hard every night and every day in practice. .. When someone makes a mistake, I try be there for them and say, 'It's all good.'"

Asked if he expected this kind of season from his son, Jimmy Moore laughed.

"I was hoping," he said. "I've seen him do it in high school. But this is a whole different level, so you just never know."

Said Jalen Moore: "It's gone really well — better than most people expected, I think. Guys coming out and playing hard. They're coming out every night, doing what coach asks and we've come away some big wins."

If the Aggies knock off Wyoming, it would be their biggest victory of the season. Moore's battle with Larry Nance Jr. and the Cowboys' other bigs will be pivotal to the outcome.

"I'm looking forward to that matchup," he said. "But I look forward to any matchup in the Mountain West. Everybody brings the best out of everybody in this conference." —

Moore by the numbers

Jalen Moore's two-year statistics at Utah State:

Season Games Starts Min. Pts. Rebs. Ast.

2013-14 32 5 17.5 5.6 2.7 0.8

2014-15 19 19 34.7 15.8 7.3 1.4 —

Wyoming at Utah State

At the Spectrum

Tipoff • 7 p.m.

TV • ROOT Sports

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9- M, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 11-8, 4-3; Wyoming 17-3, 6-1

Series • Wyoming, 45-25

Last meeting • Utah State, 65-54 (March 5, 2014)

About the Aggies •They are 7-3 at home. … In the last three games, junior G Darius Perkins averages 13 points on 9-for-14 three-point shooting. … Freshman C/F David Collette has blocked a shot in 17 of 19 games. He has 14 in the last five. … In 29 seasons as a head coach, Stew Morrill has a losing record against three schools: UNLV (3-5), New Mexico (12-13) and Wyoming (8-11).

About the Cowboys • They lead the Mountain West Conference race by one game over Colorado State, Fresno and San Diego State. … They have lost to Cal (48-45), SMU (66-53) and the Aztecs (60-52). … Senior F Larry Nance Jr. averages 16.6 points and shoots 56.9 percent from the field. … Junior G Josh Adams averages 11.9 points and shoots 39 percent on three-pointers.