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Fort Collins, Colo. • Utah State senior Chris Smith was sick before Saturday's game at Colorado State.
He was really sick during the Aggies' 96-92 victory at Moby Arena.
Smith scored a career-high 35 points and teammate Julion Pearre added a season-high 19 to lead Utah State past Antwan Scott and the high-octane Rams.
Scott matched Smith's 35 points, thanks to 8-for-11 3-point shooting. But the Aggies prevailed in what coach Tim Duryea called "one of the most fun games we've been involved in for awhile. … Wow."
Smith nearly missed it.
"I think I've got the flu right now," he said, moments after Utah State improved its record to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference. "I need to put some medicine in me and do what I can to make my body feel better."
Asked about his shootout with Scott, Smith laughed and said, "He and I were talking during the game. He was like, 'How are you making those [shots]?' And I was asking him the same thing."
Smith's single-game point total was the most by an Aggie since Jaycee Carroll scored 44 in 2007. As it turned out, Utah State needed every one of them despite leading by nine with 1:01 remaining.
A turnover, a missed free throw and back-to-back 3-point bombs by Scott enabled Colorado State to make it close. It was 91-90 with 12.8 seconds left before Shane Rector hit a free throw, rebounded his own miss and made two more to ice the win.
"Like always," Smith said, "Shane was the big clutch man."
Against Colorado State, Utah State finished 13-for-27 from the 3-point line. In their first four conference games this season, the Aggies made only 24 of their 96 3-point attempts.
"… We executed coach's game plan," Smith said. "We were swinging the ball and everybody was getting wide-open looks."
Along with his scoring, Smith contributed 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
His biggest effort on the glass came with 2 1/2 minutes remaining. Utah State owned an 87-80 lead when Jalen Moore missed a 3-pointer. Smith soared for the rebound, however, and scored on the putback to bump the Aggies' advantage to nine.
Referring to the preseason departure of starting center David Collette, Smith said, "Whatever I can do to help the team. Last year, I wouldn't have gone to war like this. … [But] I have to do more things. Obviously, because David left, we all have to do more things."
Smith's performance left Duryea shaking his head.
"Chris is one of the most talented kids in the league," he said. "He's in the best shape of his life, I think he's playing harder than he ever has and he's changed at the way he looks at himself as a basketball player.
"He's a rebounder and a three-tier scorer. He can score around the basket, he can score mid-range and he can shoot threes. … His confidence is where it should be because his ability is off the charts."
Colorado State knows.
Twitter: @sluhm —
Storylines
R Chris Smith scores a career-high 35 points and grabs 13 rebounds to lead Utah State to a 96-92 victory over Colorado State.
• Julion Pearre adds a season-high 19 points as the Aggies improve their record to 11-6 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
• Senior guard Antwan Scott leads the Rams with 35 points. He went 8 for 11 from the 3-point line.
Utah State 96, Colorado State 92
UTAH ST. (11-6)
J. Moore 6-14 1-2 16, Taylor 1-3 0-0 2, G. Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Perkins 1-4 0-0 2, Smith 10-17 11-12 35, Rector 3-7 3-5 10, Pearre 6-11 4-6 19, Evans 5-6 0-0 12, Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-64 19-25 96.
COLORADO ST. (10-8)
Omogbo 2-7 2-5 6, Daniels 6-8 2-3 14, Scott 10-16 7-8 35, Gillon 7-15 2-2 20, De Ciman 4-9 0-0 10, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, Richardson III 1-5 0-0 2, Nixon 1-4 0-0 2, Paige 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 32-70 13-18 92.
Halftime—Utah St. 45-39. 3-Point Goals—Utah St. 13-27 (Smith 4-7, Pearre 3-6, J. Moore 3-7, Evans 2-2, Rector 1-2, G. Moore 0-1, Perkins 0-2), Colorado St. 15-36 (Scott 8-11, Gillon 4-9, De Ciman 2-6, Paige 1-3, Omogbo 0-1, Richardson III 0-3, Nixon 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Utah St. 42 (Smith 13), Colorado St. 37 (Scott 8). Assists—Utah St. 12 (Pearre, Rector 3), Colorado St. 15 (Scott 6). Total Fouls—Utah St. 19, Colorado St. 21. A—3,752.
Mountain West Standings
Conference Overall
W L Pct. W L Pct.
Boise St. 4 0 1.000 13 4 .765
San Diego St. 4 0 1.000 11 6 .647
New Mexico 3 2 .600 10 8 .556
Utah St. 3 3 .500 11 6 .647
Wyoming 3 3 .500 10 9 .526
Fresno St. 3 2 .600 12 6 .667
Colorado St. 2 3 .400 10 8 .556
Nevada 2 3 .400 10 7 .588
Air Force 1 3 .250 10 7 .588
UNLV 1 3 .250 10 7 .588
San Jose St. 1 5 .167 6 12 .333
Saturday's Games
Utah St. 96, Colorado St. 92
Wyoming 70, New Mexico 68
Fresno St. 81, San Jose St. 74
Air Force at UNLV, late
San Diego St. at Boise St., late