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Logan • When forward David Collette quit Utah State's basketball team two days before the season opener, Aggie Nation's immediate concern wasn't 3-point shooting.
Collette made two last season and, at first glance, his departure seemed more likely to impact Utah State's interior scoring, rim protection and shot-blocking than long-range shooting.
As the season has progressed, however, the Aggies continue to struggle from the 3-point line.
USU's inability to dump the ball inside to Collette, who often drew double-teams and scrambled the defense, is missing. The small-ball Aggies lack a consistent low-post scorer and, as a result, opposing defenses can stay home and make life miserable on the perimeter.
Utah State led the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting last season, when the Aggies made 39.1 percent of their attempts. Through 15 games this season, Utah State is shooting 34 percent, including 17-for-71 during its current three-game losing streak. That's 23.9 percent.
Chris Smith, who made 47 percent of his 3-point shots last season, has become a focal point of defenses. While Jalen Moore (5-for-20) and Lew Evans (5-for-18) are at least getting looks at the basket, Smith managed only seven attempts in losses to San Diego State, Boise State and New Mexico. He made one.
Of course, Utah State will keep taking 3-pointers. Its other options are limited.
The Aggies attempted a season-high 29 in Saturday's 77-59 loss to the Lobos. They made six.
"The number of threes we shoot night-to-night will vary," coach Tim Duryea said. "I don't mind, if we're playing the right way, if we shoot 30 threes. I'm OK with that. And, if we shoot 15 threes and are playing the right way, I'm OK with that, too."
Utah State will try to avoid its second four-game losing streak since 1993-94 on Tuesday night, when the Aggies play Air Force at the Spectrum.
Both teams need a win.
Utah State is 9-6 overall but only 1-3 in the Mountain West. The Falcons are 10-6 overall and 1-2 in league play, including an 86-63 home loss to Nevada last week.
"Like always, Air Force presents a lot of problems with their style of play," Duryea said. "They basically penalize you for playing good pressure defense. Their persistence is designed to get a lot of easy shots and a lot of open threes. Defensively, you have to throw out some the rules you usually [do] and tweak things [because] they're a nightmare."
To beat the disciplined, good-shooting Falcons, the Aggies must play better than they did at New Mexico.
The Lobos used a 14-0 run midway through the first half to build a 43-18 lead. Utah State missed 22 of its 29 shots before playing better — albeit in a blowout — during the second half.
"In the locker room, our players were embarrassed by their first-half performance," Duryea said. "But, in another way, they were a determined group that had just hit rock-bottom. They know what they have to do to play better — how they have to play to be better."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Air Force at Utah State
P At the Spectrum, Logan
Tip-off • 7 p.m.
TV • Root
Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 95.9 FM, 97.5 FM, 102.1 FM
Records • Utah State 9-6, 1-3; Air Force 10-6, 1-2
Series • Utah State, 12-3
Last meeting • Utah State, 74-60 (Feb. 28, 2015)
About the Aggies • They have lost consecutive games to San Diego State (70-67), Boise State (76-61) and New Mexico (77-59). … They have lost four straight only once since 1994-95. … They are 10-1 in their last 11 games against Air Force, including 7-0 at home. … In the last two games, senior F Grayson Moore averages seven points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes.
About the Falcons • They average 70 points a game but are shooting only 31.9 percent from the 3-point line. … In the Mountain West, they have beaten San Jose (64-57) but lost to Wyoming (64-52) and Nevada (86-63). … Sophomore G Trevor Lyons ranks seventh in the Mountain West in scoring (15.1). Junior F Hayden Graham ranks ninth (14.9).