This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Logan • Utah State collapsed defensively Tuesday against Boise State.

As a result, the Aggies find themselves in a deep hole only three games into the Mountain West Conference season.

Boise shot 70 percent from the field in the second half during a lopsided 76-61 victory over Utah State, which lost its second straight home game.

The Aggies are 9-6 overall and 1-2 in league play. Among their remaining 15 games are return trips to Boise and San Diego State, which scored a 70-67 victory at the Spectrum last Saturday.

Climbing back into the Mountain West race — if it can be done — will be a long, steep journey.

"We didn't do our job taking care of our home court [against] two of the better teams in our league," coach Tim Duryea said. "Still, you have to take care of home court in this league."

Against Boise State, the Aggies were within one point with 13:25 remaining. It was 47-46 before the Broncos converted seven of their next eight possessions during a 15-4 run that broke the game open.

Boise ended up 17 for 24 from the field in the second half. It finished the game shooting 59.6 percent.

"Defensively, that's about as poor as you can possibly [be] — in every area, from every position," Duryea said. "Really, you give yourself no chance to win when you let an opponent shoot 60 percent. … All in all, you just can't win that way. You give yourself no chance to win when you're that un-solid."

Senior forward Grayson Moore agreed with his coach.

"It's pretty obvious to see that defense was huge in this game," he said. "We needed to keep them out of the paint more and we gave up a few crucial rebounds. That's how it slipped away … and it stings."

Jalen Moore led the Aggies with 18 points, but nobody else had more than eight.

"Right now, we're too offense-oriented in our thought process," Duryea said. "We have too many guys trying to base their game on their offensive production — their offensive output. [But] as a basketball player, you have to think about defending your position and rebounding.

"That's what you need to base your game on [because] when you have those kind of thoughts, you're usually a better offensive player. You make better decisions. You play more instinctively. And that's where we have to get." —

USU update

• Utah State is 9-6 overall but only 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference.

• The Aggies have lost two straight heading to New Mexico on Saturday.

• Boise State shot 70 percent in the second half.