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Logan • With 16 games left in the Mountain West Conference season, Utah State's contest with Boise State on Tuesday night at the Spectrum probably isn't a must-win for the Aggies.
But it's close.
If Utah State wants to stay close to the top tier Mountain West teams in the early-season race, a victory over the Broncos is a good place to start.
The Aggies are 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference after a 70-67 loss to San Diego State. Another home-court defeat, especially with a trip to red-hot New Mexico coming up Saturday, could doom Utah State to weeks of climbing a slippery slope with little wiggle room.
The bad news for the Aggies?
Boise is 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West, following seven straight wins. Utah State coach Tim Duryea calls the Broncos "the most skilled offensive team in the league. … They seem to score so easily. So that's concern No. 1."
Boise State is led by junior forward James Webb III, the reigning conference player of the week. He ranks fifth in the Mountain West in scoring (16.3) and first in rebounding (8.6).
"He's doing a really good job for them," Duryea said. "Tremendous offensive rebounder. He runs out and gets baskets in transition … [and] he's doing a better job scoring inside the three-point line than he did last year. Underrated defensively, too. He's just a handful."
In a critical same-position battle, Utah State counters with its leading scorer, junior forward Jalen Moore. Over the last four games, he averages 17.8 points while shooting 9-for-19 on three-pointers. That includes going only 1-for-6 against San Diego State.
"Webb's a guy who's a challenge," Duryea said. "But Jalen should be able to match-up and do well. Size-wise, they are the same and they are the same caliber athletes. That's a matchup we need to win."
If this game follows a recent trend, it will be close.
Over the last two seasons, Utah State and Boise State have split four games, which were decided by a total of 16 points. Last season, the Broncos snapped an 18-game losing streak in Logan with a 68-63 victory. The Aggies won in Boise, 62-61, when David Collette hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
"Physically, we've been a pretty good match-up for each other," Duryea said. "The look of our front line pretty much resembles the look of their front line. Skill-wise, too. They aren't a lot bigger than we are. …
"I think what it will come down to is who's going to get the key stops? You look at our games against them lately and they've all been close. They all been decided in the last minute or two."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State vs. Boise State
At the Spectrum
Tip-off: 8 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: 610-AM, 1280-AM, 95.9-FM, 97.5-FM, 102.1-FM
Records: Utah State 9-4, 1-1; Boise State 10-4, 1-0
Series: Utah State, 30-10
Last meeting: Boise State, 68-63 (20-14-15)
About the Aggies: They have won four of their last five games but come off a 70-67 loss to San Diego State. … They are 2-4 when scoring less than 70 points. … They are 2-4 when trailing at halftime. … Their top scorers are junior F Jalen Moore (14.6), senior G Chris Smith (13.3) and junior F Lew Evans (10.2). … Evans also averages a team-high 6.5 rebounds in only 20.5 minutes per game.
About the Broncos: They have won seven straight since a 68-59 loss to Arizona on Nov. 29. … They are 1-2 in true road games. … They come off an 84-80 win over Colorado State. .. They average 79 points a game and shoot 35 percent on three-pointers. … Their top scorers are junior F James Webb III (16.3), senior G Anthony Drmic (14.9) and junior F Nick Duncan (11.9).